• AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT - World Radio History

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OCTOBER 27, 1977

ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY UPDATE ISSUE

Growing families of cohiplex digital chips strengthen

the microprocessor's hold on new developments/90

FOUR DOLLARS A Mc ORAW-HILL PUBLICATION

c ronics® DOLLARS

• AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT

Conductive Plastic Tri at Carbon Prices. Just when you thought " low cost" also meant low performance'', along comes the dazzling new Bourns) Model 3355. Compare it to the CTS 201, Mepco 46X or Piher PT15. Our revolutionary conductive plastic element vs. their carbon . fact is we outperform them all. To prove it, we spec important characteristics such as CRV at 1% and a TC of 500 PPM/ C ... the others don't. And only the 3355 has board-wash capability, a UL-94V-1 flammability rating and an optional choice of nine rotor colors. The standard blue is priced at just 11c each ( 100,000 pieces). . . about what you'd expect to pay for the iower performance carbon types.

Send today for complete details on a colorful new wa? to design in superior performance for your cost effective needs — the Mooel 3355 Trimmer. Direct or through your local distributor.

TRIMPOT PRODUCTS DIVISION, BOURNS, INC., 120C Columbia Ave., Fiverside, CA 92507. Phone: 714 781-5050 — TWX: 910 332-1252.

CATALOG SHEET SPECIFICATION COMPARISONS

BOURNS CTS MEPCO PIHER CHARACTERISTIC 3355 201* 46X' PT15'

Element Conductive Plastic Carbon Carbon Carbon

Temperature Coefficient 500 PPM/°C No Spec No Spec 1000 M!°C

Contact Resistance

Variation 1.0% max. No Spec No Spec No Sp, c

Power Rating .25 W at 70°C .25 W a' 55'C .25 W at 55°C .25 W at 40°C

Flammability UL-94V-1 No Spec No Spec UL-94

Board Wash Capability Yes No Spec No Spec No Spec

•Source: CTS Series 201 Data Sheet, Mepco Data Sheet ME1054. Pil'er Data Sheet F-2002 Rev 7/73

International Marketing Affiliates: European Headquarters — Switzerard 642/23 22 42 • Belgium 02/218 2005 • Frrice 01/2039633 • Germany 0711/24 29 36 • Italy 02/32 56 88 • Netherlands 70;87 44 00 • United Kingdom 01/572 653' • Norway 2/71 18 72 • Sweden 764/20 110 • Japan 075/921 9111 • Austialia 0255-0411 03/95-9566 • Israel 77 71 15/5/7

For Immediate Application — Circle 120 For Future Application — Circle 220

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ElEti FIND

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WRITE

011

STORE

\— OU T: CON \I

AUTO STORE

For a low cost way to capture fast transitions, glitches, low rep- rate signals

and single-shot events...

HP's the Answei. And the new 15MHz 1223A with variable persistence/storage is your scope. Now, you don't need to pay for more capability than you need. In-stead, you have the option of low-cost, variable persistence/storage scope that not only captures those elusive signals, but lets you see fast risetimes clearly for better glitch detection — something new for low-cost oscillo-scopes. The 1223A provides variable persistence/storage and ease-of-use for only $2250.*

Set it in Auto Store, walk away, and it's armed to capture and store an event for up to two hours. Vary the Brightness Control and you can opti-mize signal-to-background contrast. Vary the Persistence and you can in-tegrate those glitches, very-low-frequency, and low-duty-cycle traces into clear displays or eliminate over-riding noise. Adjust auto erase to the desired rate and you can update the

HEWLETT ilhÈï PACKARD

display without even touching the scope. Of course you can store a trace or erase a stored signal with the touch of a button.

And there's more: 2mV/div sensi-tivity, TV Sync, selectable chop/alter-nate sweep operation, variable trigger hold-oft and calRwated X-Y display. And you get traditional HP after-sale support

Here's an economical answer for industrial lab and production applica-tions such as electromechanical, in-dustrial control and medical equip-ment design, testing and trouble-shooting. Excellent capability at low-cost for education too. Your local HP field engineer has all the details. Give him a call today. In addition to the 1223A, ask him about the variable persistence/storage in a high-perfor-mance 100MHz scope—HP's new 1741A. •Domestic U.S.A. price only.

Oa, 2

1507 Page Mn Road. Palo APO Cabtor,,a 94.:04

For asestance call Washongton (301) 348-6370, Ch(cago 012) 255-91400, Atlanta 1404 955-1500. Los Angeles (213) 877.128.!

Circle 1 or reader service card

Systems

Processor growth: can your small computer

make the upgrade? Product Our HP 1000 and 21MX Comnuters Your old favorite

Computers

Software

21MX computers, with memory capacity of 1.8 million bytes, speeds up to 350 ns, and user microprogramming. All have compatible architecture, instruction sets, I/0 and memory.

K-Series computer on a board: $9741'

M-Series low-cost computer: $2,6981'

E-Series high-performance computer: $3,803:' Instructions 70-100% faster than M-Series.

HP 1000 includes 21MX-E computer, CRT console with soft keys and dual cartridges, RTE operating system. Fault control memory available to 1.8 million bytes. Easy to upgrade as your needs expand, with full selection of HP manufactured and supported peripherals.

Model 20. 64K-byte memory-based systems: $21,000. 500K-byte flexible discs optional.

Model 30. 64K-byte disc-based system, 15M-byte disc storage: $36,500. 5M and 50M-byte discs available.

Model 80. 128K-byte data base management system with 15M-byte disc storage. HP-developed IMAGE DBM software, mag tape and line printer: $61,700. 50M-byte discs available.

One upward-compatible family of Real Time Executives: RTE manages 1.8 million bytes of main memory. BASIC, FORTRAN, Assembly and Microprogramming languages. Distribute Systems Networks. Measurement and control support.

*OEM quantity 100. All other prices 1.1.S. domestic list.

If you've been having trouble making the upgrade with your old favorite, it's probably time you got a new one. So call your local HP sales office listed in the White Pages. Or write to Robert Puette, Hewlett-Packard, 11000 Wolfe Road, Dept. 612, Cupertino CA 95014. We don't think anyone should have to live with an incompatible family.

Circle 2 on reader service card

HEWLETT àî PACKARD

22705HPDS7

Electronics The International Magazine of Electronics Technology

39 Electronics Review FIBER OPTICS: Plug-in modules to handle all systems chores, 39 Computer applications of fiber optics stirs interest at IBM, 40 PHOTOVOLTAICS: Silicon ribbon attains 3-in. widths, 41 DISPLAYS: Texas Instrument's flat CRT is simply a flat CRT, 42 AUTOMOTIVE: Electronics adjusts shocks, smooths ride, 42 MILITARY: Defense electronics to up its share of budget, 44 MEETINGS: Midcon show looks like a hit in Chicago, 46 NEWS BRIEFS: 50 SOLID STATE: RCA adds heat pipes to power devices, 50 FIBER OPTICS: Plastic cable works well in infrared, 50

63 Electronics International GREAT BRITAIN: Microprocessors go to the front lines, 63 JAPAN: Simple microcomputer kit serenades user, 64

73 Probing the News COMPUTERS: Speed of nonimpact printers may not be worth it, 73 ABROAD: Hungary's strength is communications, 76 COMPANIES: TRW logic devices spawn a division, 78

153 New Products IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SBC-80 board has analog and digital outputs, 153 SEMICONDUCTORS: Rectifiers have linear forward-voltage drops, 154 DATA HANDLING: Graphics board is versatile, 165 SUBASSEMBLIES: Power hybrids are built from submodules, 174 COMMUNICATIONS: Test set cuts operating costs, 184 INDUSTRIAL: Temperature monitor offers dual set-points, 204 COMPONENTS: Resistors have low thermal emfs, 216 INSTRUMENTS: Calibrator has dc accuracy of 50 ppm, 222 MATERIALS: 230

Departments Publisher's letter, 4 Readers' comments, 6 News update, 8 People, 14 Editorial, 24 Meetings, 26 Electronics newsletter, 33 Washington newsletter, 57 International newsletter, 61 New literature, 232

Services Employment opportunities, 242 Reprints available, 256 Reader service card, 259

Vol. 50, No. 22 • October 27, 1977

Cover: Award goes to instrument trailblazers, 82

For the independent and simultaneous development of the first logic analyzers, Electronics salutes Charles H. House, engi-neering manager for logic-analyzer pro-grams at Hewlett-Packard's Colorado Springs division, and B. J. Moore, president of Biomation Corp. Cover by Art Director Fred Sklenar.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE, 90

The past year saw remarkable and wide-spread advances in the application of microprocessors and large-scale integrated circuitry. Moreover, it contained the promise of many more in the near future. Semiconductors, 92: New MOS processes set speed and density records. Memories & Microcomputers, 96: One-chip con-trollers and 4-k static RAMs star. Computers, 104: Memory-oriented designs maximize throughput. Components, 112: Converters adjust to LSI, and bi-FET operational amplifiers emerge. Instruments, 120: Techniques evolve for ser-vicing LSI-based equipment. Communications, 128: Fiber optics and LSI expand system capacities. Packaging & Production, 134: E-beam systems arrive, and flexible circuits flourish. Consumer, 140: The digital takeover extends to television receivers and auto controls. The year in electronics: a chronology, 148

And in the next issue . . .

A new method of accurately measuring time . . . high throughput from an electron-beam system . . . signature analysis plus in-circu t emulation finds faults in microprocessor-based systems.

Electronics/October 27, 1977 3

Electronics

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Kemp Anderson

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Samuel Weber

MANAGING EDITOR: Arthur Erikson, International

SENIOR EDITORS: Laurence Altman, Ray Connolly, Lawrence Curran, John Johnsrud, H. Thomas Maguire, Stephen E. Scrupski, Gerald M. Walker

ART DIRECTOR: Fred Sklenar

ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Howard Wolff, Alfred Rosenblatt

DEPARTMENT EDITORS Aerospace/Military: Ray Connolly Circuit Design: Vincent Biancomano Communications & Microwave:

Richard Gundlach Components: Lucinda Mattera Computers: Raymond P. Capece Consumer: Gerald M. Walker Instrumentation: Stephen E. Scrupski New Products: H. Thomas Maguire,

Michael J. Riezenman Packaging & Production: Jerry Lyman Solid State: Laurence Altman

CHIEF COPY EDITOR: Margaret Eastman

COPY EDITORS: Ben Mason, Mike Robinson

ART: Charles D. Ciatto, Associate Director Paula Piazza, Assistant Director

EDITORIAL SECRETARIES: Janet Noto, Penny Rothman

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Marilyn B. Rosoff

FIELD EDITORS Boston: Lawrence Curran ( Mgr.) Los Angeles: Larry Waller ( Mgr.) Midwest: Larry Armstrong ( Mgr.) New York: Bruce LeBoss (Mgr.) San Francisco: Bernard Cole ( Mgr.)

Judith Curtis Washington: Ray Connolly ( Mgr.) Frankfurt: John Gosch London: William F. Arnold Pan's: Arthur Erikson Tokyo: Charles Cohen

McGRAW-HILL WORLD NEWS Editor: Michael Johnson Brussels: James Smith Milan: Andrew Heath Moscow: Peter Hann Paris: Andrew Lloyd Stockholm: Robert Skole Tokyo: Robert E. Lee

PUBLISHER: Dan McMillan

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER: Paul W. Reiss

MARKETING ADMINISTRATION MANAGER: Wallis Clarke

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Karl Peterson

MARKETING SERVICES MANAGER: Tomlinson Howland

RESEARCH MANAGER: Margery D. Sholes

Publisher's letter Achievement is highly praiseworthy

in any field of endeavor, and in electronics it is not only praise-worthy but tremendously influential. All around us, the fruits of elec-tronics technology are visible, from television sets and radios to the latest consumer attractions, such as home computers and electronic games. Some of the fruits, of course, aren't so visible but are becoming even more pervasive. It's no wonder, then, that the individual achieve-ments posted by the people in the electronics industry affect the lives and lifestyles of people everywhere.

Every year, Electronics magazine bestows its Award for Achievement as an acknowledgment of the vital importance of individual creativity in fueling the growth of electronics technology. Indeed the basic aim of the award is to spotlight the outstanding achievements that pro-mote and advance technological pro-gress or the general welfare of the electronics industries. And every year, the editors of

Electronics face the same tough task. They have to decide which of the hundreds of truly significant devel-opments to honor with the award, isolating the one that both stands out from all the rest and best symbolizes the elusive quality that is called achievement. The fourth annual award, which

goes to Charles H. House of Hewlett-Packard Co. and B. J. Moore of Biomation Corp. for their digital- logic instruments, recognizes just such an achievement. The crea-tion of a whole new class of instru-ments is not an everyday occurrence and reflects quite a creative tour de force. The fact that two quite sepa-rate approaches were taken— and

independently, at that— sort of dou-bles the creative content.

Before these instruments, which are logic-state and logic-timing ana-lyzers, came on the scene, digital semiconductor technology had mushroomed. However, its rapid progress was being retarded some-what by the need to work with conventional instrumentation de-signed for analog circuits. Thus was conceived the idea of designing instruments specifically for what has been called the data domain. Our award winners this year not only were among the first to perceive that need, but they realized the opportu-nities such instruments would create and, most important, saw the ways to do the job.

While their approaches were quite different, they opened new windows for the designer. Since then, of course, the instrumentation line of both companies has expanded and there is some overlap in technique. What's more, their instrument-design departures started other people thinking about the special demands of the digital world, and other methods, such as signature analysis, have been launched.

For the full story on the Electronics Award for Achievement and this year's winners, turn to page 82. That story, though is just one of many features of this annual Technology Update issue. So for a summary of what has been happening in the past year in electronics, don't miss our 40-page special report starting on page 90.

October 27, 1977 Volume 50, Number 22 94.951 copies ol reis issue Printed

Published every other Thursday by McGraw-Hill, Inc. Founder: James H McGraw 1860-1948 Publication office 1221 Avenue of the Americas. N.Y.. N.Y. 10020. second class postage paid at New York. N Y. and additional mailing offices

Executive. editorial, circulation and advertising addresses: Electron-ics, McGraw-Hill Building, 1221 Avenue of the Americas. New York. N.Y. 10020. Telephone (212)997.1221. Teletype 12-7960 TWO 710-581-4879. Cableaddress MCGRAWHIL L NE WYORK. SubSCnptions limited to professional persons with active responsibility

in electronics technology No subscriptions accepted without complete identification of subscriber name, title or lob function, company or orga-nization. and product manufactured or services performed. Based on information supplied, the publisher reserves the right to reject non-qualified requests. Subscription rates: in the United Stales and posses-sions $ 14 one year, $25 two years, $35 three years; company addressed and company libraries $20 one year. $36 two years, $50 three years: APO/FPO addressed $35 one year only: Canada and Mexico $ 16 one year. $28 two years, $40 three years: Europe 840 one year. $ 71 two years, $ 100 three years: Japan, Israel and Brazil $65 one year, $ 115 two years, $ 165 three years. Australia and New Zealand $90 one year. $ 170 two years, $240 three years, including air freight, all other countries $45 one year. $80 two years. $ 112 three years. Limited quota of subscriptions available at higher- than-basic rate for persons allied lo field served. Check with publisher tor nase rates. Single copies $4.00. Please allow four to eight weeks for shipment.

Officers of McGraw•Hill Publications Company Gordon L Jones, President. Paul F McPherson, Executive Vice- President: Group Vice-President: Gene W. Simpson: Senior Vice- Presidents Russell F Ander• son, James E. Boddorf, Planning & Development. David G. Jensen, Manufacturing; Ralph R Schulz. Editorial; Vice- Presidents. Denis C. Beran. European Operations; David P Forsyth. Research: Douglas Greenwald, Economics: James E. Hackett. Controller, Robert L.

L Officers n;Coirfc ;It:ea t pEodrwa Edward dn aSrcohldir. Sales e . McGraw, Jr.. President, Chief

Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board: Robert N. Landes. Senior Vice President and Secretary; Ralph J Webb. Treasurer.

Title registered in U.S Patent Office; Copyright 1977 by McGraw-Hill, Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of copyright owner•

Subscribers: The publisher, upon written request to our New York office from any subscriber. agrees to refund that part of the subscrip-tion price applying to copies not yet mailed. Please send change- of-address notices or complaints to Fulfillment Manager. subscription Orders to Circulation Manager. Electronics. at address below Change-of -address notices should provide old as well as new address, including postal zip code number. If possible, attach address label from recent issue. Allow one month for change to become effective

Postmaster' Please send form 357910 Fulfillment Manager, Electron-ics. P.O. Box 430, Hightstown. N.J 178520.

4 Electronics/October 27, 1977

new KEPCO/TOK triple-output

IA/i17ching

for microprocessors and logic applications

The KEPCO/TDK series RMT combines a logic 5 Volt ± 10%, 10 ampere output with various combinations of auxiliary voltages (see table). All outputs are stabilized by high efficiency switching circuits.

RIVIT

FEATURES

Each output protected by overvoltage monitor.

Each output prbtected by self- resetting overcurrent circuit.

Soft start circuit reduces primary surge current.

Remote on-off using logic level switching

High density: more than 75 watts in less than 100 cu. in.

FOR YOUR MICROPROCESSOR

MODEL OUTPUT

Volts

=-1

Amps

OUTPUT

Volts

=2

Amps

OUTPUT

Volts

=3

Amps PRICE

RMT 001-AA +5V 10 A +12V 1 A -12V 1 A S329.00

RMT 002 -AA +5V 10 A +15V 1 A - 15V 1 A 329.00

RMT 003-AA +5V 10 A +12V 1 A -5V 1 A 329.00

R MT 004 -AA +5V 10 A +15V 1 A - 5V 1 A 329.00 RMT 005-AA +5V 10 A +12V 1 A -9V 1 A 329.00

Custom volt-ampere combinations are available. Please consult the factory.

KEPCO ® For complete specifications, write Dept. BTF- 14

KEPCO, INC. • 131-38 SANFORD AVENUE • FLUSHING, N.Y. 11352 U.S.A. • (212) 461-7000 • TWX = 710-582-2631 • Cable: KEPCOPOWER NEWYORK

Electronics/October 27. 1977 Circle 5 on reader service card 5

Readers' comments

Reduce Your Power Supply Size and Weight By 70%

A new way has been found to sub-stantially reduce power supply size and weight. Consider the large power supply shown at left in the above photo — it uses an input transformer, into a bridge rectifier, to convert 60 Hz to 5 volts DC at 5 amperes. This unit measures 6rx4"x7;.1" and weighs 13 pounds. Abbott's new model Z5T10, shown at right, provides the same per-formance with 70% less weight and volume. It measures only 23./x4"x6" and weighs just 3 pounds.

This size reduction in the Model Z5T10 is primarily accomplished by eliminating the large input transformer and instead using high voltage, high efficiency, DC to DC conversion circuits. Abbott engi-neers have been able to control the output ripple to less than 0.02% RMS or 50 millivolts peak-to-peak

maximum. This design approach also allows the unit to operate from 100 to 132 Volts RMS and 47 to 440 Hertz. Close regulation of 0.15% and a typical temperature coefficient of 0.01% per degree Celsius are some of its many outstanding features. This new Model "Z" series is avail-able in output voltages of 2.7 to 31 VDC in 12 days from receipt of order.

Abbott also manufacturers 3,000 other models of power supplies with output voltages from 5 to 740 VDC and with output currents from 2 milliamps to 20 amps. They are all listed with prices in the new Abbott catalog with various inputs:

6041/2 to DC

400eit> to DC

28 VDC to DC

28 VDC to 40041/2

12-28 VDC to 60%

Please see pages 1037-1056 Volume 1 of your 1975-76 EEM (ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS MASTER Catalog) or pages 612-620 Volume 2 of your 1975-76 GOLD BOOK for complete information on Abbott Modules.

Send for our new 60 page FREE catalog.

abbott transistor

LABORATORIES, general offices

5200 W. Jefferson Blvd./Los Angeles 90016 (213) 936-8185 Telex: 69-1398

6 Circle 6 on reader service card

INCORPORATED enatern attire

1224 Anderson Ave./Fort Lee, N.J. 07024 (201) 224-6900 Telex: 13-5332

We have enough problems

To the Editor: Many persons, myself included, will not buy an electroni-cally controlled car if we are given any reasonable alternative. First, we question the reliability of a complex electronic system in the harsh envi-ronment of a car, which makes a spaceship look by comparison like a baby buggy.

Second, considering the present difficulty of getting competent ser-vice, we doubt the ability of the automotive establishment to satis-factorily diagnose and repair such a system, even given elaborate moni-toring facilities. Who, after all, will maintain this diagnostic equipment?

Finally, we foresee astronomical repair bills as service personnel fran-tically replace major assemblies to repair the myriads of subtle mal-functions not anticipated in the design of the automated test equip-ment.

Dale Hileman Sphygmetrics Inc.

Woodland Hills, Calif.

So do the cities

To the Editor: I would like to suggest an optional strategy for those munic-ipalities that cannot afford the cost of increasingly sophisticated traffic radars designed to defeat radar detectors ["Highway radar eludes detectors," Sept. 15, p. 44]. If the radar is used in the departure mode (receding target), the radar detec-tors are totally defeated.

Daniel A. Langiani Gloucester, Mass.

Corrections

There were several minor errors in the schematic diagram of the select-able pulse time— dead time counter that appeared in the Oct. 13 issue ["Counter and switches select pulse-train length and dead time," p. 97]. The Q output, not the .0 output, of

the 7472 flip-flop should be connect-ed to G6, and pin 1 of the 7490 counters should be connected to pin 12, not pin 14. Also, the 7472 clock input should be driven by G5 and the J and K inputs connected to the 5-volt power source.

Electronics/October 27, 1977

Investment Energy What kind of power is needed to "seed" the

energy sources of the future?

THE TECHNOLOGIES which offer the brightest promise of a major

contribution to tomorrow's energy economy share a common need. In all cases, a large investment of energy is required, before a return on invest-ment can be realized.

In most approaches, this invest-ment is an integral part of the produc-tion cycle—creating the environment in which energy generation can occur. In others, it's needed to prepare the materials and components that go into the process. But in all cases, the in-vestment is massive... and it must be delivered with exceptional precision and managed with exceptional sen-sitivity. UVC has won a position of leader-

ship in this demanding field—through long-term participation in the re-search, development and testing of advanced energy systems ... and the provision of power for high-energy applications in such related areas as particle acceleration, high-volt-age power distribution, and laser systems.

Basic structure of the tokamak device (ORMAK) at Oak Ridge.

While the "payout" on investment in some of the fields in which we're involved may be a decade or even a generation away, we know that these

are ventures of historic importance, and deserving of our best talents and highest efforts.

Fusion Through Plasma Heating and Magnetic Confinement

Progress continues toward the goal of achieving controlled thermonuclear reactions by the heating of isotopes of hydrogen (available in limitless quan-tities in the world's oceans) to stellar temperatures. Methods of maintain-ing such astronomical temperatures for sufficient periods of time include various ' magnetic confinement' schemes. The most promising of these are being investigated with reactors of the so-called tokamak (ORMAK) designs. UVC equipment is presently in use,

powering the neutral injection sys-tems for heating of such reactors, at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Princeton University, The University of California at Livermore and Berke-ley, and at private corporations funded by ERDA. These units, supplying energy for particle acceleration and deceleration, include the largest, highest-power equipment ever de-livered by UVC.

Fusion Through Laser Implosion

Another dramatic approach to con-trolled fusion involves the ignition of thermonuclear reactions by subjecting tiny pellets of hydrogen isotopes to intense bursts of laser light. UVC has developed a wide variety of power

supplies for laser fusion experiments ... including work being done at the Livermore laboratories of the Univer-sity of California, where an effort is under way to generate the most pow-erful pulses of light ever created by man.

Laser implosion of a pellet.

Uranium Enrichment for Nuclear Power Generation

The 'enrichment' of uranium, by the separation of specific isotopes from the natural metal, is essential for the manufacture of the rods which fuel most types of nuclear fission reactors. Here, too, a laser application holds great promise for bringing new efficiency and economy to what has been an extremely costly and difficult process. And here again, UVC power sup-

plies are playing an important role in bringing this new technique to frui-tion.

What Can We Do For You?

Whether you're concerned with advanced energy systems or more conventional power problems, you too may profit from UVC's uncom-mon competence. If you'd like to dis-cuss how we might add some Invest-ment Energy to a project of your own, please call or write: Dept. El 0.

Universal Voltronics Corp. 27 Radio Circle Drive Mt. Kisco, New York 10549 (914) 241-1300

Electronics/October 27, 1977 Circle 7 on reader service card 7

Our "Instrument Professionals" will tell you which scope will do the job best, at the lowest cost, make immediate delivery and guarantee performance.

Write or call for data on our other specialties: Instrument Leasing • Computer Peripherals • Equipment Sales • Instrument Service. Circle 8 on reader service card

Div. Continental Resources, Inc. 175 Middlesex Turnpike, Bedford, MA 01730 (617) 275-0850

FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE CALL N.E. (617) 275-0850; LI. (516) 752-1622; NY, NJ (201) 654-6900; Gtr. Phila. (609) 234-5100; Wash., D.C. area (301) 948-4310; Mid West (312) 439-4700; So. Central (214) 690-1706; Costa Mesa, CA (714) 540-6566; L.A., CA (213) 638-0454; Santa Clara. CA (408) 735-8300.

News update

• Shipments of the large-scale digi-tal computer built by National Semiconductor Corp. and marketed by ltd Corp. of San. Francisco have been going on since the spring, and the deal between National and Itel is still in effect. The computers are direct emula-

tions of IBM'S System 370/158, which run on ism's own software [Electronics, Oct. 14, 1976, p. 29]. However, the National-Itel machine sells for half the price of the IBM 370/158, which can range upward from $2 million. The emulation also claims for itself higher performance: a minimum of 25% more through-put. Itel's sales targets are the more-than-1,000 model 158s in place.

Bernard Cole

• Control Data Corp. and Litton Industries Inc. have finally begun fabricating what are perhaps the largest displays ever built with their technologies— and the two are using different and competing technolo-gies. The displays, which combine standard military paper maps and computer-generated tactical display data, are being built under the joint Tactical Display System project of the U. S. Army and the West German Ministry of Defense [Elec-tronics, June 10, 1976, p. 25]. The displays are 1 meter by 1

meter. CDC'S technique is to place a transparent one-color (orange-red) plasma panel over the maps; Litton puts the maps over a three-color (red, green, and amber) light-emit-ting-diode display and shines data through the maps, says Sid Littman, program manager at the Army Elec-tronics Commands, Fort Monmouth, N. J. Litton had problems in getting enough light to shine through the map, while CDC experienced some trouble with its basic display tech-nology, Littman says. However, he adds, "both firms have solved their technical problems. They are fab-ricating displays and it looks like they got what they want." Fab-ricated systems should be ready by next May or June, though initial delivery was scheduled for early 1978. Bruce LeBoss

Gas Sensing Semiconductor

FIGARO TGS GAS SENSOR

Applications 1. Natural Gas- Leak Alarm 2. Propane Gas- Leak Alarm

3. Carbon Monoxide Detector

4. Automatic Fan Control 5. Fire Alarm ( Detecting

quickly senses even small

amount of gas.

combustible gases

contained in smoke;

6. Alcohol Detector (Detector tor drunken

driver) 7. Air Pollution Monitor

Please contact ans of the addresses below dtrer tiv tor

FIGARO ENGINEERING INC. *Head Office: 3-7-3 Higasn,toionaka. Tovonaka

City. Osaka, 560. JAPAN TELEX 05286155 FIGARO J CABLE FIGARO TOYONAKA

TEL: 1061 849-2156

*North America: 3303 Harbor Boulevard. Suite D-8. Costa Mesa. Calif orna 92626. U S.A. TELEX 678396 CABLE ' CARENGIN COSTAMESA TEL ,7*.: 751-4103


Our Strict Production Control System with

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Al

ugrii

Miniature lamps: Sub-miniature lamps: Various base caps: All other parts for lamps:

For further information and your problem settlement,

contact us Irnmedlatelv

SAKMA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD 14-12, 3-Chome, Hatanodai,

Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142, Japan Cable Address: "SAKATABASE" TOKYO.

Tel: (03)781-6078


World's fastest memory: Fujitsu's 7071/7072 1K ECL RAM delivers 10 ns maximum access time.

Please send me data on the 7071/7072 1K ECL RAM Please send me the Fujitsu short-form product selector guide Please send me the Fujitsu IC Catalog Please call me to discuss an immediate application

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Title

State


Attention, next-generation system designers! You're going to need the fastest main-frame, scratch-pad, con-trol and buffer memory you can get. And you can get it only from Fujitsu! It's our 1K ECL RAM—the 7071/7072. The 7071/7072 is available immedi-ately, in volume. It delivers 7.5 ns typical access time ( 10 ns max.) in the H version and 12 ns typical access time (15 ns max.) in the N version. Organized in 256 x 4 format, the new Fujitsu 1K ECL RAM is fully com-patible with the 10K-series family. It can be configured as a 512 x 2 or a 1024 x 1 RAM, by using the unique block select inputs. For high-density applications, it offers 0-75 °C oper-

ating temperature range. Power dissi-pation is a low 0.8 mW/bit. The 7071 is offered in a 24-pin square package. Prefer a DIP?—the 7072 is our 22-pin model. These are the specifications and characteristics designers are ask-ing for—and the rest of the memory world is trying to match.

Our state-of-the-art ECL process technology is at the heart of this remarkable RAM achievement. It enables us to deliver not just raw speed but consistent characteristics in any quantity you need. Plus demon-strated in-the-socket reliability. Relia-bility that's building loyalty among users who cannot afford to compro-mise their reputations.

You can't best Fujitsu when it comes to memory and memory-peripheral cir-cuits. We deliver the broadest line by far: bipolar and MOS; size/price/per-formance for every application; speci-fications that never vary, no matter how many you need. For more details on the 7071/7072 and Fujitsu's com-plete memory IC product line, return the coupon or call us in Santa Clara, California for the name, address and telephone number of you local representative.

FUJITSU AMERICA INC.

2945 Oakmead Village Court Santa Clara, CA 95051 (408) 985-2300 Telex: 357402 • TWX: 910-338-0047

Circle 9 on reader service card 9

R 6500: the third generation microprocessor system Now you can move up to the proven 2 MHz performance of an NMOS 8-bit micro-processor, the R6500 from Rockwell.

Third-generation R 6500 architecture and instructions with 13 powerful addressing modes make it easier for you to design more functions in, more cost out. And the R 6500 is design-compatible with systems you may now be using.

R6500 economics are on your side Smaller R 6500 chips and single 5V power supply keep costs down as performance goes up. To get the right fit, choose from 10 software-compatible CPUs, eight ver-satile I/0s, ROMs, RAMs, and memory-I/O-timer circuits.

R6500 CPU Options 40-Pin DIP 28-Pin DIP

R6502 R6512 R6503 R6513

R6504 R6514

R6505 R6515 R6506 R6507

Memory Address Space 65K 65K 4K BK 4K 4K BK

Interrupts— Maskable —Non-Maskable

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

No No

SYNC— Output indicates op code fetch cycle Yes Yes No No No No No

ROY—Single step and slow memory synchronization Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes

01 Clock Output Yes Yes No No No Yes No

DBE— Extended Data Bus Hold Time No Yes No No No No No

I/O Devices

PART # NOMENCLATURE DESCRIPTION

R6520 Peripheral Interface Adapter

2, 8-bit bidirectional I/O ports; 4 peripheral control/interrupt lines.

R 6522 Versatile Interface Adapter

PIA functions plus 2, 16-bit program-mable interval timers/counters.

R6530 ROM-RAM-I/O-Timer 1024 x 8 ROM, 64 x 8 static RAM; 2, 8-bit bidirectional data I/O ports; 2 programmable data direction registers; 8-bit interval timer.

R6532 RAM-I/O-Timer 128 x 8 RAM; 2, 8-bit bidirectional data ports; 2 programmable data direction registers; 8-bit interval timer.

PLUS ROMS, RAMS...AND MORE ON THE WAY

Rockwell adds solid development support For fast and efficient system design, Rockwell offers SYSTEM 65— one of the smartest and lowest-cost, disk-operating, complete development systems available. It's equipped with two mini-floppies, resi-dent two-pass assembler, text editor and monitor/debug package.

KIM- 1, TIM, timeshare, complete docu-mentation, plus extensive applications engineering are also available.

Rockwell is delivering in volume now R6500 circuits are already being produced in quantity with Rockwell's N-channel, silicon-gate, depletion load process.

R6500 devices and SYSTEM 65 devel-opment microcomputers are now available at your loca, Hamilton-Avnet or Schweber distributor.

And new chips are in design. The first, a fully static 32K ROM, is now in production.

For your R6500 brochure write: D-727-F, Marketing Services, Microelec-tronic Devices, Rockwell International, P.O. Box 3669, Anaheim, CA 92803, U.S.A. or phone (714) 632-3729.

Rockwell International ...where science gets down to business


A little knowledge about computers can be expensive.

A lot can be free.

;e!!

1. The inside story on how our full PRODUCT LINE makes the difference to you. Reader Service #140

4. Describes seven important SUP-PORT SERVICES that get systems up and running, then keep them there. Reader Service # 145

7. How OEM's solve the dilemma of keeping their system costs down with our NOVA 3 COMPUTER FAMILY. Reader Service #149

2. How Commercial ECLIPSE Systems answer the diverse demands business makes today on a data system. Reader Service #141

, enar.

to

onbr, fae, I dirilt. '

3. The secret of having computer power where your business needs it. Our book on CS/40 SMALL BUSINESS SYSTEMS tells. Reader Service #142

5. Find out how our Real-Time Disc Operating System SOFTWARE can get you on-line fast, and keep you there. Reader Service # 146

8. What you need to know about getting everything for a DATA ACQUISITION and CONTROL system from one place. Reader Service #150

6. IT'S SMART BUSINESS to know how our way of doing business benefits our customers. Reader Service # 148

9. The last word in microprocessor-based microNOVA systems with full 16-bit NOVA architecture. Reader Service #151


10. The amazing story behind our unique heuristic MULTI-PROGRAMMING operating system.

Reader Service # 194

IF) .44 ' • ewittrel / jtj.ek4n

, iet ___Ibieu\kiiia-4a )

13. A wealth of information about how our computers are being used in actual APPLICATIONS. Reader Service #197

16. What's the most you can expect to get from a mid-range mini today? What you get with an ECLIPSE S/130 — the standard setter. Reader Service #200

_weir 19. 1976 was a very good year. Our ANNUAL REPORT could be good for you. Reader Service # 203

11. What to do when you need fast, fast access to MASS STORAGE.


14. Wonder what sets the benchmark for big performance computer systems? Wonder no more, it's ECLIPSE sa3o. Reader Service # 198

. à.:s ..W.e......., il

efle . iv THE WAY

17. You want terminals that work the same way you do? You want the facts on our DASHER TERMINALS.


12. NOVA 3 systems, software and support let you customize a system to your application.

Reader Service #196

15. Is there a sensible way to use computers in DATA COMMUNICATIONS? The message comes through clear.


18. Our whole SPARE PARTS catalog. They're too important to be kept a mystery.


...... 1111

• Mail to: Data General, Westboro, MA 01581

E Yes, I'd like to pick your brains. Please send me the brochures I have circled.

E I'm in a hurry. Have your sales representative bring in the brochures I have circled.

Brochure numbers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Name Title

Company

Address Tel.

City State Zip Data General, Westboro, MA 01581, (617)366-8911. Data General (Canada) Ltd.. Ontari.i. Data General, Europe. 15 Rue Le Sueur, Paris 75116. France, 50-006-06. Data General Amtralia, Melbourne (03)82-1361.

C) Nova and ECLIPSE are registered trademarks of Data General Corp., 1977. DASHER usademarli of Data General Corporation.

I Data General EX1027

L us smart business. — I )at a General Corporation, 1911


ZIP DIP II SOCKET/RECEPTACLE

SERIES IMPROVED TEXTOOL SERIES INCREASES VERSATILITY AT COMPETITIVE PRICES

The ZIP DIP II socket/receptacle series offers all the advantages of TEXTOOL's original zero insertion dual-in-line package models plus increased socket versatility and reduced receptacle pricing.

The ZIP DIP II socket features an en-larged entry for use with an even wider range of devices and a flat top plate for easier entry and extraction. Contacts are on even 100 mil spacing (300-400-600 mil) for more conve-nient mounting on standard hardware.

A built-in " stop" insures that the ZIP DIP II handle can't be easily over-stressed. Top mounted assembly screws facilitate the replacement of damaged or worn internal parts. TEXTOOL has strengthened both hardware and plastic for increased reliability and screw mounting of the socket to the ZIP DIP II receptacle makes possible a more positive locking system.

The ZIP DIP II recep-tacle (left) has all the fea-tures of previous ZIP DIP receptacles, yet at a lower price. It virtually eliminates mechanical rejects, is a disposable plug-in unit re-

quiring no soldering and has a typical life of 25,000-50,000 insertions. The receptacle is ideal for high volume hand testing and, since replacement time is eliminated, a test station can process literally millions of devices be-fore it must be replaced.

Detailed information on these and other products from TEXTOOL . . . IC, MS! and LSI sockets and carriers, power semiconductor test sockets, and custom versions .. . is available from your nearest TEXTOOL sales representative or the factory direct.

SEXTO

PRODUCTS, INC.

1410 W. Pioneer Drive • Irving, Texas 75061 214/259-2676

People

Nobel winner Anderson awaits

practical uses for advances

"It's very hard to fight an existing technology that's doing the job," says Philip W. Anderson, consulting director at Bell Laboratories's Physi-cal Research Division in Murray Hill, N. J., and cowinner of the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Cited for his contributions during the late fifties and early sixties to the understanding of local-ized magnetism in metals and the formulation of the idea of localiza-tion in disordered materials, Ander-son helped lay the groundwork for the magnetic-bubble and Josephson-junction (superconducting) technolo-gies in the first instance, and amor-phous semiconductors in the second. Amorphous devices are now being

applied in computer memories and as photoelectric light-sensing ele-ments, while magnetic bubbles and Josephson devices may play roles as storage memories in telephone and computer equipment. But the mild-mannered, 53-year-old theorist, is careful in predicting other applica-tions. "A new technology has to have enormous advantage in the face of the cost of the engineering develop-ment needed to build it up," he says. Door opener. It will not be easy for

anything to replace existing silicon-semiconductor technology because, as he points out, "all the engineering development has been done. How-ever, if present semiconductor tech-nology fails to do the job, then the door is open for a new technology, like amorphous semiconductors, just as vacuum-tube technology failed in computers and opened the way for transistors." One suggested use for glassy-like

amorphous devices, which should be cheaper to manufacture than crys-talline silicon, has been in solar-energy converters. Anderson, who is part-time physics professor at Princeton University, cautions that though advantages may be there, practical realization is not.

His work at present is still in the theoretical realm, delving into amor-

Winner. New technology will find a place if

the old fails to do its job, Anderson says.

phous semiconductors and random magnetic alloys. He does express faith in at least a couple of the new technologies, saying he has "great hopes for Josephson technology as it applies to high speed computers and their use in the communications field." Likewise, he expects good things from magnetic garnet bubble-memory devices.

Ferris wants to assess

impact of FCC policy

One of Charles D. Ferris' first prior-ities when he took over as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Oct. 17 was to upgrade the Office of Plans and Policy. He wants that office to make the FCC able "to forecast trends, rather than react to them" and to let the commission "assess the impact of its decisions, rather than being told about the impact by others."

If Ferris can achieve that, it will be more than his predecessors could do. Since being set up in 1971, the office has by and large been ineffec-tual, for lack of authority to acquire data from the FCC'S other bureaus. Should Ferris change its role and image, his success will mark him as an accomplished politician. The political skills and con-

nections of the new FCC chairman have already attracted notice. For example, before his most recent job as general counsel to House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., Ferris served 12 years on the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, where he rose to

14 Circle 14 on reader service card Electronics/October 27, 1977

"Kodak helped us set up a reprographics program that could save us more than 900,000 a year." Dennis Thurgood, Document Control Manager, EIMCO PMD Division, Envirotech Corporation, Salt lake City.

" El MCO PMD is a leading manufacturer of pollution control equipment. Since much of this equipment has custom engineered features, we generate more than 2,000 drawings a month.

"We started working with Kodak back in 1973, expanding our microfilm capabilities. Most recently, we set up a reprographics center with a Kodak Startech processor. Doing the photoreproduction work internally has resulted in substantial dollar savings.

"Also, we have increased the individual drafter's capacity. Before, he was doing a basic pencil-to-paper operation. Now he comes to us and says, ' I need to get from here to here, can you Ihelp me? And we can. Scissors drafting, opaquing, second origi-nals via blowbacks from microfilm are all part of our capabilities. Making the drafter more efficient is probably the major justifica-tion for the installation.

"And it's certainly paying its way. We figure we'll save more than $100,000 a year for the next five years. We've reduced cost by doing photoreproduction work internally; saved drafting time through reprographic techniques; and we've gotten our files under control with microfilm:'

Reprographics can help you, too. Send for more details about El MCO.S

use of reprographic techniques, plus a complete listing of Kodak products and other applications. Write: Eastman Kodak Company, Graphics Markets Division, Dept. R4805 , Rochester, N.Y. 14650.

VERSATILITY In REPROGRAPHICS


Cast-moulded capacitors

alM•111

require small

WIMA FKS 3

1000 pF up to 0.047 pF

WIMA FKC 3

100 pF and up

WIMA MKS 3

Up to 0.47 1JF

WIMA FKS 2 min

P.C.M. 5 mm 1000 pF to 0.047 pF

are an excellent aid in designing your IC-equipped printed boards. Use the new plug-in WIMA R capacitors which are smaller and have regular dimensions. Write for our new catalogue.

WILHELM WESTERMANN Spezialvertrieb Elektronischer Bauelemente D-68 Mannheim 1 Fed. Rep. of Germany Augusta-Anlage 56 P. 0. Box 2345 Tel.: (0621) 40 80 12

People

New heed. FCC chairman Charles Ferris

seeks to upgrade Office of Plans and Policy.

the post of chief counsel. "The FCC is going to need a well-

connected politician next year when Congress takes up the Bell bill," notes one industry lobbyist. Formal-ly titled the Consumer Communica-tions Reform Act, the controversial Bell bill— so called because of its strong support by American Tele-phone & Telegraph Co.— will at-tempt to rewrite and update the 1934 Communications Act that set up the FCC.

Ferris displayed one sign of his political savvy by carefully avoiding any prejudgment of the pending legislation. Calling competition and related telecommunications issues "the biggest challenge facing me," the 44-year-old lawyer cautiously observes, "the law prohibits my favoring competition just for com-petition, equally as it would rule out monopoly just to preserve monopoly. The goal must be what course best serves the public." The new chairman began his

career as a research physicist for Sperry Gyroscope at Great Neck, N. Y., in 1954 after receiving a BS from Boston College. But he re-turned there in 1961 to take a law degree, going on later to Harvard University's Advanced Management Program at the Graduate School of Business.

Ferris professes strong advocacy of government in the sunshine and says he will run "an open commis-sion. . . . I want the public to know who I meet with and what I meet with them about."


SSR UPDATE

Our International Connection The European market demanded a high voltage AC solid state relay with a challenging corn-bination of performance features such as: • 3750VRMS optical input/output isolalion to meet VDE and IEC specs

• 800 volts peak blocking voltage for high overvoltage transient immunity

• 480VRMS output voltage rating for reliable 3-phase switching

• 200V/sec min. off-state dv/dt rating • Steady state load current ratings up to 40 Amps

ir TELEDYNE RELAYS

VERLAG

We met that challenge with our all-new 621 Series. Fact is, Teledyne designed it from the ground up to achieve all of the above— from pc board layout with wide tracking distances for high voltage isolation to a highly functional case configuration with deep recessed terminals. Other features include logic compatible input drive circuitry, and zero voltage turn-on to reduce EMI.

For complete specification data, contact your local Teledyne Relays sales office. You'll find we have the experience, products, and technical

support to meet all your SSR needs.

3155 West El Segundo Boulevard, Hawthorne, California 90250

Telephone (213) 973-4545


OTHER TELEDYNE AC SSRs

A. 601 Series* 5 and 10A ( to 600V peak). Optically isolated, zero voltage turn-on. Screw terminals, quick disconnects, and pcb pin options.

B.

D

E.

611 Series* 10, 15, 25 and 40A ( to 600V peak) Optically isolated, zero voltage turn-on. Dual purpose screw/quick disconnect terminals.

675 Series* Low profile ( 0.5" max.) pc board SSRs. Output rating 3A. up to 600V peak. Optically isolated, zero voltage turn-on.

671 Series I/O Converter Modules. Special purpose SSRs for use in programmable controllers, machine tool controls, etc. Mounting panel available.

SerenDIP" Series* TO-116 DIP package. Output rating 1A/280VRMS. Logic compatible 3.8 to 10VDC input.

970 Series MOVs High voltage transient suppressors designed specifically for use with all —eledyne AC SSRs.

•LIL recognized/CSA certified.

, Circle 17 on reader service card 17

And we speak it in many ways. Our entire MI Series Connector line, for example, is designed to true metric dimensions. And that includes everything from contact centers to housing dimensions.

In addition, the MI Series meets the general requirements of national and international testing and approval groups —ranging from UL and IEC to CSA and VDE.

Even more important, wherever you may use MI connectors, in New York or Sydney, you can depend on first-rate AMP technical service. Because AMP has long been a worldwide corporation with major factories and engineering facilities in the leading countries. And that means true in-depth support at home and abroad. Plus practical first hand advice on international technical requirements when you need it.

Even without international technical aid, AMP MI Series Connectors are economical. Because they are part of AMP's exclusive Multimate Family. That means you can use common contacts with a variety of connector families and save on both tooling and inventory.

So if your product plans are international in nature, be sure to get complete information on AMP MI Series Connectors. Just call Customer Service (717) 564-0100. Or write AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, PA 17105.

AMP has a better way.

A NI Fi INCORPORATED


AMP is a trademark of AMP Incorporated

MOSTEK 3870 SINGLE The solution to low-cost

Cost advantages increase potential applications.

Mostek's new single-chip 3870 microcomputer is the answer to maximum cost effectiveness in a wide range of control and logic replacement applications. Most obvious advantages are software flexibility, fewer components, low power and a 40-pin plastic package. The device now makes it economically feasible to replace as few as 12 TTL packages in an existing system while increasing capability. And the 3870 pinout allows applications to be implemented on single-sided PC boards, further reducing system costs.

,

2Kx8 mask programmable ROM

Software compatible wit existing F8 family

SYSTEM COST

LOGIC REPLACEMENT

DISCRETE LOGIC

0 POS ° TERMINAL

F8 GAMES

MK 3870

INDUSTRIAL

CABLE TV CONTROLLERS TERMINAL

PRINTER PARE ELECTRONIC SC,ES OCR Lu.. CONTROLLER VENDING TOYS GAMES,..ro.0,,,E uo, CASH REGISTER MACHINES APPLIANCE TRAFFIC PUMP MEDICAL ELECTRONICS

CONTROLS CONTROL CAMERAS INSTRUMENTATIONS

SYSTEM COMPLEXITY

Full-capability on one chip. The 3870 is the first single-chip

microcomputer offering full compatibility with a multi-chip processor family. The device can execute the complete F8 instruction

set of more than 70 providing comp compatibility multi-chip f programs -chu device 1)1 RÔM, 64 bytE of scrat d «AM, four 8-bit I/O ports and a single +5 volt power supply requirement. If more memory (RAM, ROM or PROM) or I/O is eventually required, the system can I simply upgraded to the expandable MK 3850 (F8 CPU).

Low-cost, development tools.

Development represents a significant investment in your program. Mostek offers one low cost

TEST

Undei

SCRATCHPAD ADDRESS REGISTER

PORT 0

2048 X 8 BIT ROM

SCRATCHPAD REGISTERS

PORT 1

64x8 scratchpad RAM 3 b ts (eports) bidirectional TTL compatible I/O

CHIP MICROCOMPUTER. logic replacement

édule (AIM-;EMU-70) for PROM prétotyping.

With completion of software development and debugging, your 3870 prototype may be emulated for field-testing and evaluation with the Dompact PROM-based EMU-70. This allows exact verification of code prior :o committing to mask programmed MK 3870's.

From low-cost application development to low-cost delivery, your Aostek representative or distributor

$10.00*

•

READY STROBE

CONTROL LOGIC

INSTRUCTION RGISTgl

RESET

has all the answers. Call or write today for a free brochure describing the versatile 3870 single-chip microcomputer.

Modulo "N" binary readable timer

1215 West Crosby Road Carrollton, Texas 75006 (214) 242-0444

MOSTEK ASIA Telex: 85148 MKA HX

In Europe, contact: MOSTEK GmbH Telephone: (0711) 701096

Four modes of vectored interrupts

Low Power (typ 300mW)

Single +5 volt -±10% power supply

Ready strobe provides handshake capability with port 4

*1000 piece quantities, 40-p n plastic package


Intel delivers the 214 memory technoto

Imagine a 4K fully static RAM that runs at bipolar speed yet cuts power consumption dramatically, all in a standard 300-mil wide 18-pin DIP

That's the new 2147. It's a product of a new High- performance MOS technology we call HMOS. The 2147 is in production and we're delivering it now. HMOS makes it a new industry standard in high speed, high density memory. It's sure to change the way you design high performance memory systems.

In fact, the larger the cache, main or add-on memory your design needs, the lower the power consumption per bit with the 2147. A unique new power-down mode makes that power reduction possible. When the 2147 is deselected it stands by at a typical power dissipation of 50 m'W —less than 15 microwatts per bit. So you can achieve major savings in cooling and power supplies, in systems large or small.

Access times range from 55 to 70 ns maximum with identical cycle times. Typical operating power dissipation is 500 ne, with

tei ----rwee ' -e4 - Pe

eNS IO

ertl%A SSI e

NCCISS. (* 55

í

,

5

k's HMOS, the new that scoops bipolar.

POWER REQUIREMENTS VS SYSTEM SIZE

1K Bipolar

worst case specs not much higher. Throughput is always high because the J 200

2147 can respond to select inputs as fast as to address inputs. FIMOS eliminates the 150

2147 HMOS

power-up delays of conventional power- E 100

down techniques. E On top of this the 2147 is fully static, 50

eliminating the complications of conven-tional high density RAMs, such as clocking, address set-up or hold times. The 2147 operates on a single +5V supply and is directly L compatible. It uses the industry standard

pin-out for 4K x 1 static RAMs. The chip itself measures only 158 mils square.

Now Intel has an expanded family of HMOS 1K and 4K high performance static RAMs: the recently introduced 2115A/2125A and now the 2147. Check 2115A/2125A and 2147 performance specs at right.

Order 2147's, 2115A's and 2125A's from your local•Intel distributor. Contact: Almac/Stroum, Component Specialties, Cramer, Hamilton/Avnet, Harvey Electronics, Industrial Components, Pioneer, Sheridan, L.A. Varah, Wyle Liberty/Elmar or Zentronics.

For more information write: Intel Corporation, 3065 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, California 95051. In Europe: Intel International Corp. S.A., Rue du Moulin á Papier, 51-Boite 1, B-1160, Brussels, Belgium. Telex 24814. In Japan: Intel Japan Corp., Flower Hill-Shinmachi East Bldg. 1-23-9 Shinmachi, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo 154.

250 —

ge

11

o

100% Duty Cycle

25% Duty Cycle

1 4K 16K 32K 48K

Memory Size in Words

64K

intel delivers.

HMOS RAMs

Density

Current ( mA) Access

Time(ns) Active Standby

Typ. Max. Typ. Max. Max.

2147 4K 100 160 10 20 70

2147-3 4K 120 180 15 30 55

2115A/25A 1K 100 125 N/A 45

2115AL/25AL 1K 60 75 N/A 45


Editorial

Engineering employment: rerun?

There is increasing evidence that a boom is in the making in engineering employment. The classified pages are bursting with recruitment ads, and at recent technical conferences the headhunters were aggressively evident. The Technical Demand Index, a barometer of the demand for technical personnel in all disciplines compiled by Deutsch, Shea and Evans, a New York recruiting firm, is at an 11-year high, exhibiting an 80% rise since a year ago. While no one is as yet willing to project a serious shortage of engineers, the competition for available people is unquestionably high. As one president of a high-technology company recently put it, "the next big problem in electronics is not in technology but in human resources." The return of boom times for engineers

should stir a strong feeling of déjà vu in those of us who have been through this before. And it should also stimulate feelings of alarm and caution as industry tries to meet the upcoming human resources problem in high-technology areas, without repeating some of the past mistakes.

Let's just run through a reel or two from the old movie. In the good old days, there were boom times. Then, unexpectedly, an economic slowdown hit. Companies retrenched and laid off engineers. To the surprise of everyone, the slowdown worsened and lasted long enough to be called a recession. Companies retrenched even more and laid off even more engineers. Meanwhile, back at the engineering schools, great numbers of students, drawn into engineering by continuing predictions

of continuing boom times, waited to enter the job market. Reel two, of course, shows the disillusionment and sobering readjustment forced on the too many who could not land or hold on to the too few jobs. The engineering profession has just been

through a good part of reel two and now it looks as if the movie is about to start over. But it's not too late to write a new scenario.

Just a year ago on this page we pointed out: "For some time it hàs been apparent that the nation's engineering schools are turning out more EES than industry, Government, and academia can absorb. Incredibly, despite studies by engineering societies and warnings from a host of other informed groups, there is no evidence that steps are being taken to make sure that young people entering an engineering career path are presented with a realistic picture of their prospects for jobs after their training is completed." Now, as companies turn once more to the

engineering schools to fill the depleted pipelines, it is their responsibility as well as the schools' to present a realistic picture of career prospects and industry needs. They should work closely together to ensure that not only will industry's short-term needs be met adequately but that in the long term the baleful effects of oversupply will be avoided.

It may be that, given the dynamics of the free-wheeling electronics industries, it will never be possible to damp down the supply and demand oscillations completely. But it is essential that everyone try.


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Five success stories: Each of these proprietary LSI circuits made one of our customer's

new products perform better and cost less. That's our business. Making our customers' products better

by apply:ng the advanced technologies of large-scale integra-tion. We've done it hundreds of times, in a wide and growing spectrum of product applications.

Take, for example, the multimeter cir-cuit we designed for an instrument manu-facturer. By miniaturizing functions in the circuit, we made the product more portable and more reliable. We also saved the customer a good deal of money in assembly labor—enough to amortize his development costs within a year. Or consider the pair of ICs we devel-

oped for a CB radio manufacturer. One of the devices, a Bipolar AM Receiver, handles all functions between antenna and audio. The other chip, a CMOS digital frequency synthesizer, includes a pre-scaler, a PLL and VCO. Providing over 80% of the electronics required to pro-duce a CB transceiver, this chip set is just one example of how we can combine

4

3

KEY: 1. DM Cirait. cod, NO converter: 2. LCD Watch Circuit. 6-cig.t 6-tuncticn: 3. CB Scanner with ROM: 4. Cardiac Pacemaker: 5. PLL Frequency Synthesizer

both digital and linear processes to tailor a cost-efficient system solution. And we are as reliable as you can get when it comes to

making custom LSI circuits. Our proven production processes—HD/CMOS, Bi-polar and the deposition of thin-film resistors on LSI chips—consistentfy produce high yields.

2 Exceptional noise immunity and high switching speeds are standard perfor-mance features—especially in our HD/ CMOS circuits. And because they con-sume less power than microprocessor-or IC-based systems, our devices operate on comparatively smaller, less-expensive power supplies.

5 If your potential application requires more than a handful of standard ICs and discrete components, you ought to think about the advantages of converting to custom LSI. Contact us today and we'll help you write your own success story.

& MICRO POWER SYSTEMS

We sell more than circuits. We sell solutions.

3100 Alfred Street, Santa Clara, CA 95050, (408) 247-5350


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Our Model 100A/10 gives you more features per dollar ...that's why EDN selected it as a top product for 1977*

FEATURE MODEL 100A/10 HP-1607 Trigger Word 24 bits 16 bit:.

Data Displayed 3 bytes by 16 words deep 2 bytes by 16 words deep (1 byte x 16 at any onetime)

Oats Collection Pre- and post-trigger Pre- and post-trigger

Display Mode Single/Repeat Sirgle/Repeat

Display Formal HEX/OCTAL HEX/OCTAL

Qualifiers 2 (both trigger word & clock) 2 (trigger word or clock)

Digital Delay 999 clock pulses or 99.9.19 clock pulses only

999 trigger words

Data Collection Rate 8 MHz 20MHz

External Scope Req'd Yes Yes

Auxiliary Memory No Yes

Map Mode No Yes

External Trigger Output Yes Yes

Logic Family Compatib.lity All Dut ECL All

Modularly Expandable Yes Yes

Intensified Trigger Word Yes Yes

Weight 7 pounds 14 pounds

Power 10 watts 120 watts

PRICE $599.95 complete $2900.00 plus probes

WHAT IF YOU DON'T NEED ALL THAT CAPABILITY RIGHT NOW? Fine. Start with the Model 100A Logic Analyzer and save over 50%. You'll fina that the Model 100A is a powerful 8-bit logic analyzer in its own right. Then add the mating Model 10 expander unit for an additional 16 bits when you're ready. (An optional baseplate locks the two units together.) Incidentally, if you have a few spare hours, purchase the kit versions and save another 25% per unit.

WHAT ABOUT DOCUMENTATION? We've got it. The Model 100A and Model 10 each come with a comprehensive 100-page instruction and applications manual. In fact, if you want to see how well these units can satisfy your application, buy the manuals first for $4.95 each.

For additional information or a demonstra-

tion, contact your local Paratronics, Inc. PARATRONICS, INC. Paratronics, Inc. Stockng Sales Office or

800 Gharcot Ave., San Jose, CA 95131. Tel (408) 263-2252

SALES OFFICES: AL. Huntsville (205) 533-5896: Az. Phoenix (602) 253-6104; CA. Costa Mesa (714) 540-7180. Sunnyvale (408) 733-8890; CT, Canton Center (203) 693-0719; FL, Winter Haven (813) 294-5815; HI. Waikiki (808) 922-2152; IL, Bk Grove VIII ( 312) 593-0282; IN, Indianapolis (317) 293-9827; MD, Burtonsville (301) 384-8500; MA, Wakened (817) 245-5940; MI, Northville (313) 482-1229. MN. Minneapolis (612) 781 - 1611; NM, Albuquerque (505) 268-3941; NY, Syracuse (315) 448-' 284, NYC, Elmont (516) 488-2100; NC, Raleigh (919) 787-5618; OH, Centerville (513) 433-8171, Cleveland (218) 331-0900; OK Tulsa 1918) 743-6892. PA, Hatboro (215) 674-9600; TX, Houston (713) 461-4487; AUS. Victoria (03) 288-7100; BRAZ., Sao Paulo (011) 221-2456; CAN.. Ontario (416) 275-2270; CAN.. B.C. (604) 985-0511, DEN., Horsens (05) 61 11 00; FR.. Paris 668 10-59; NOLL., The Hague 070-678380; IS.. Tel-Aviv 282031; U.K.. Bracknell Barks (0344) 52929.

" See EDN Magazine's "New Product Showcase Issue," July 20, 1977.

Meetings

Asilomar Conference on Circuits, Systems, and Computers, IEEE et al., Asilomar Hotel, Pacific Grove, Calif., Nov. 7 — 9.

Midcon, IEEE, O'Hare Convention Center and Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago, Nov. 8 — 10.

Compsac 77—Computer Software and Applications Conference, IEEE,

Sheraton-O'Hare, Chicago, Nov. 8 — 11.

Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Conference, IEEE, Radisson Hotel, Minneapolis, Nov. 8 — 11.

AAMI/FDA Conference on Medical Device Regulation, Association for Advancement of Medical Instru-mentation and U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Hyatt-Regency Ho-tel, Washington, D. C., Nov. 15 — 16.

26th International Wire and Cable Symposium, U. S. Army Electronics Command ( Fort Monmouth, N. J.), Cherry Hill Hyatt House, Cherry Hill, N. J., Nov. 15 — 17.

Electro-Time/77 U. S.— Design and Manufacture of Electronic Watches, International Society for Hybrid Microelectronics, Florida Chapter, Marco Beach Hotel, Marco Island, Fla., Dec. 1 — 2.

Semiconductor Interface Specialists Conference, IEEE, Carillon Hotel, Miami Beach, Dec. 1 — 3.

Chicago Fall Conference on Consum-er Electronics, IEEE, Ramada-O'Hare Inn, Des Plaines, III., Dec. 5 — 6.

International Electron Devices Meet-ing, IEEE, Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D. C., Dec. 5 — 7.

National Telecommunications Con-ference, IEEE, Marriott Hotel, Los Angeles, Dec. 5 — 7.

1977 Winter Simulation Conference, IEEE, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Md., Dec. 5 — 7.

26 For a demonstration circle 26 For more information circle 263 Electronics/October 27, 1977

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MODEL 62028 B L 8 9 9 F

FROM 20Hz TO

4 9513111 Hz S-D has just the right counter for your

communications and low frequency needs.

Communications Counters Systron-Donner offers you a choice of no less than, tour communica-tions counters from 100 MHz to 4.500 MHz. Small and lightweight, all of these counters feature the latest advances high speed, precision frequency measurement.

• Sensitivity: 10mV RMS (Models 6241A, 6242A, 6243A). Model 6244A: 10mV RMS to 500 MHz, —13 dBm above 500 MHz. Overload protec-tion: Withstands high input signal levels without damage. • Display: 8 LED digits, 0.11 Hz resolution. • Tone measurement (opt.): Example: measure 1020.01 Hz automatically in 1 sec. • Meet the whole family: 100 MHz Model 5241A—$595; 512 MHz Model €242A—$795; 1250 MHz Model 6243A—$995; 4500 MHz Model 6244A— $ 2153.

Low frequency counters, 10 and 80 MHz Not all low cost counters are alike! S-D's are different because they can accu-ately measure most of the signals encounte•ed in low fre-quency applicat ons. Here's why:

• Three-position atteniator: x1, x10, x100. (evoids false counting)

• Offset control allows measurement of non- sinusoidal waveforms

• Four selectable gate limes from 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz • 25 mV RMS sensi-tivity • Advanced input circuitry to assure error-free measurements.

Model 62028 (110 MHz), $295. Model 62038 (80 MHz), $325. (U S. prices only).

For sales assistance, contact Scientific Devices or Systron-Doriner at 10 Systrol Drive, Concord, CA 94518. Phone (415) 676-5000.

SYSTRON DONNER


he boa eets I o disc rising Iservic ts,

Our new 851 Digital Tester can give you the leverage to con-trol those costs. Managing a service organization is no' bed of roses. Its big business. And its continually getting more costly. Customer engineers, spare parts inventories, training, designing for serviceability. documentation. and in-strumentation all contribute to these spiraling costs. Be-cause service is so important to the success of a com-pany. you need to indentify those elements which have 7he greatest leverage for your service organization.

Consider instrumentation.

Typically it is less than 5'. of your overall service budget. Yet the right test instrument can have a tremendous

-r- impact on the other 95°.... training. salaries, inventory requirements. travel and backup.

Thats why we built the new 851 Digital Tester. Its a synergistic. new service in-strument that combines the

- - -

'unctions of many instruments in one portable package.

We know that the task of servicing digital equipment is threatening to outrun existing service resources. Your first- line customer engineers are being required to make more intricate measurements on increasingly complex systems.

With the new 851. your first- line customer engineer will be able to solve more problems in less time on the first call. That's because he can rely on the measurement and knterpretation capabilities of the 851 to perform compli-cated tests in the field. Not only does this save you the expense of calling in the back-up engineer, but it also gives your first- line engineer the satisfaction of solving more problems on the first call.

A new concept in service instruments.

Your inventory of service instruments probably includes oscilloscopes. DMM's. counters. timers, logic probes. thermometers. and some special purpose test equipment.

A bench full of test equipment is a great resource for your customer en-gineer to rely on...as long as he doesn't have to travel much.

But imagine a self-contained service instrument that weighs only 13 pounds and makes most of those same measurements.

That's our new 851 Digital Tester.

The power of the 851 lies in the fact that even though this one instrument makes the measurements of a variety of test gear. it is also easy to use.

With just one turn of the knob you can dial 22 different functions to make a wide range of system measurements and tests.

851 Functions

MEASUREMENTS SIGNAL ANALYSIS SELF TEST

VOLTAGE

PEAK 125 ns 5525 Ins)

AC

DC

POWER LINE

INPUT LODI,:

THRESHOLDS

RESISTANCE

(010 to 50 MU)

TEMPERATURE

-14E120 no to 10 a) PERIOD

FREOUENCY

PULSE WIDTH

INTERVAL

COINCIDENCE

TRANSiTION

LOGIC STATE INDICATORS

HI, LC', INVALID. ACTIVE

% CUTE FACTOR

COUNTING FREOUENCV RATIO

EVENTS BETWEEN

START AND

STOP PULSES

TRANSITIONS BETWEEN

START AND

STOP PULSES

TO

TEST SIGNAL

EXERCISE FUNCTIONS

ADJUST PROBE

READOUT TEST

Its easy. Just dial a function, probe the circuit being examined, and read the results directly from the auto-ranging LED display.

And what about product support? With Tektronix, it's worldwide.

Wherever in the world your service organization goes. Tektronix is with you all the way. Service personnel at 46 Tektronix Service Centers in the U.S. as well as service personnel in 50 other countries back our products.

Put the 851 to work in your digital service environment.

The measurement capabilities of the 851 make it particu-larly useful for sevicing computer peripherals, small busi-ness systems, and industrial control equipment.

We had you in mind when we designed the 851 Digital Tester.

For a demonstration. visit the TEKTRONIX booth at WESCON. Detailed specifications. application notes and a color brochure are also available for your information. Please contact your Tektronix Field Engineer. Or write Tektronix. Inc., PO. Box 500. Beaverton, OR 97077. In Europe. vvrite Tektronix Limited. PO. Box 36, St. Peter Port. Guernsey. Channel Islands

New concepts in digital service

1›..Ictrorux-For Technical Data circle 28 on Reader Service Card rnr nomnnctratinn circle 29 nn RPAdPr Service' Card

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MODCOMP computers are helping bring back the answers. On August 20, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration launched the first of two Voyager spacecraft atop a Titan Centaur rocket for man's most extensive reconnaissance to date of the outer planets. In September, the second Voyager was launched. Both vehicles were placed in trajectories that will take them to Jupiter and Saturn and past several moons of both planets. The spacecraft will arrive at Jupiter in March and July of 1979, and at Saturn in November, 1980 and August, 1981. One of the Voyagers may then be targeted for the first encounter with Uranus, some 1.7 billion miles from Earth, and possibly Neptune. The decade-long journey coufd take the vehicles to as many as 15 different planets and satellites.

The success of the Voyager projects will be measured by the ability of scientists to track and monitor the activities of the spacecraft and process the vital data returned to Earth. These critical functions are primarily performed for Voyager and other ongoing space missions, including Pioneer, Viking and Helios, by a series of MODCOMP computers in the Deep Space Network of Jet Propulsion Laboratories in

Artist's concept of Voyager Spacecraft passing Saturn—courtesy of NASA/Jet Propulsion -aboratory

Pasadena, California, which includes tracking stations throughout the world.

Meeting or exceeding exacting specifications for performance and reliability such as those required by NASA/JPL to help guarantee the success of these missions, is not unusual for MODCOMP. In fact, it has become a way of life.

When it comes to solving problems with computers, MODCOMP leads the way. Whether your application calls for a single, stand-alone system, or a full-blown network of computers.

To learn more about how we can help you, contact Modular Computer Systems, Inc., 1650 West McNab Road, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309, Phone: (305) 974-1380.

MODCOMP Solving Tomorrow's Problems Today

European Headquarters: Expert House, Woking, Surrey, England Phone: (04862) 71471


When you're small you've got to be tough to last.

This rugged little Y6-watt fixed resistor (. 145 L x . 062 D) is hard to beat in durability. It's the Type BB...part of a family that has passed nearly 800 million unit test hours without a

single failure. It's small enough to be mounted on .300 by . 100 hole centers, eight in the same space as one dual in- line package. It takes transient pulses that would knock out most any film resistor of similar dimensions. Performance is excep-tionally consistent from one resistor to the next. We have the space-saving resistors you need. Our distributors have them when your need is now.

Proved in nearly 800 million unit test hours without failure.

characteristics offer offer out-standing protection against transient surges.

typically less than 200 PPM over normal operating temperature range of + 15°C to + 75°C.

Quality in the best tradition. ALLEN-BRADLEY Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204


Electronics newsletter

DEC introducing

its first 32-bit mini

Push into in-circuit

tester market

speeded by Teradyne

Digital Equipment Corp. is expected to announce its long-awaited entry into the 32-bit minicomputer market. The system, to be named VAX—for virtual address extension— will prove to be a boon for PDP-11/70 users who need the additional addressing capability, but wish to continue on PDP software. With its own operating system for 32 bits plus compati-bility with DEC'S 16-bit systems, the VAX can directly address 2 megabytes of memory, which DEC is implementing with its first wholesale use of 16,384-bit random-access memory chips.

Teradyne Inc., the Boston manufacturer of test and semiconductor produc-tion equipment, is making its biggest move to date into the market for in-circuit board testers with the introduction this month of its L529 assembly inspection system. The L529 prescreens loaded analog, hybrid, and digital circuit boards for between 70% and 90% of assembly and component faults prior to functional testing of the board. Earlier this year, Teradyne introduced the L429, which was limited to prescreening boards for short circuits, but the new system puts Teradyne in direct competition with the two small companies that have dominated in-circuit testing until now — Faultfinders Inc. and Zehntel Inc. Teradyne's Jeff Hotchkiss, product manager for in-process test equipment, expects heavies GenRad Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. to be close behind Teradyne into the in-circuit board test fray, and for the competition to get "really fierce."

Motorola lands A relative newcomer to the memory systems business has made what shapes up as the biggest sale of the year. Motorola Semiconductor,

memory system Job Phoenix, after barely one year in the business, has signed a contract with

called biggest of 1977 the Link division of Singer Co., in Binghamton, N. Y., to supply 256-megabit systems, each containing 18,000 16-k 6616 dynamic RAMS, and 6800-microcomputer control to replace rotating memory disks. Initial orders are in excess of $1 million, potentially running as high as $20 million. Final competition was between Motorola and Intel Corp., which was offering a charge-coupled-device version.

Intel reorganizes In response to ever-increasing pressure, especially from small, feisty semiconductor manufacturers like Mostek Corp. in dynamic memories

microcomputer, and Zilog Corp. in high-end microcomputers, Intel Corp., Santa Clara, components units Calif., has reorganized its operations into more manageable divisions. The

former microcomputer group has been split into two — a components division headed by Leslie L. Vadasz, formerly assistant general manager for microcomputers, and a systems division, headed by William C. Davidow, formerly general manager for microcomputers. The semiconductor components side of the house, which will be headed

by Edward L. Gelbach, formerly senior vice president and general manager, has in turn been divided into two divisions — a fast static and dynamic memory division headed by Ron Whittier, formerly director of engineering for components, and a static random-access-memory, erasable read-only-memory, and bipolar ROM division, headed by George Schneer. Jack C. Carsten, marketing vice president, will have worldwide marketing responsibility for components. Gelbach will also have responsibility for special component developments for such dedicated applications as automotive and telecommunications. This is the third reorganization of a


Electronics newsletter

major semiconductor manufacturer in the last few months, following realignments at National Semiconductor and Fairchild.

Zilog chips in Microcomputer designers can look forward to powerful new entries next year at both ends of the performance spectrum. Zilog Corp. of Cupertino,

with more power; Calif., whose growing Z-80 microcomputer family was the first enhanced Mostek enhances 3871 8-bit multichip design, will offer two: a single-chip Z-8 version for stand-

alone and minimum-chip controller configurations, and a 16-bit Z-8000 design for powerful high-end minicomputer applications. The expandable, single 5-v Z-8, which promises to be the fastest one-chipper to enter the market, can execute some instructions in as short a time as 1.5 µs using a 4-MHz clock. The part has 2 kilobytes of read-only memory, 96 bytes of random-access memory, and 32 input/output ports. The 16-bit Z-8000, which functionally stands in the PDP-11/70 class,

will include difficult-to-implement multiply and divide instructions and enough data-handling power to manage large blocks of external memory. The company will also introduce the microcomputer industry's first high-level Cobol language set, for its midrange Z-80 family, in November and Fortran in December.

Meanwhile, Mostek Corp. is planning an enhanced version of its stand-alone 3871 one-chip design by year's end. The part will have 4,096 words of ROM— the biggest program capacity of any one-chip part — and 1,028 bytes of RAM, twice as many as the 3870.

Switching transistor Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s Semiconductor division in Youngwood, Pa., has developed and made available what is perhaps the biggest switching

from Westinghouse transistor in existence. Designed for the industrial marketplace to eliminate called biggest yet problems with thermal fatigue, the new D6OT series devices, made with

the firm's thyristor process, have a gain of 15 at 50 A and a peak-power-handling capability of 200 A and 450 to 550 v. The stud-mounted devices have fast switching speeds— less than 1-µs turn-off and turn-on times.

Addenda Memory makers are having trouble delivering enough 16-k RAMS. Thus the heavy demand is pushing average selling price to between $20 and $30. Mostek Corp. is the leader with 800,000 units this year, followed by Intel Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. with another 800,000 between them. . . . To conform to industry standards and in response to the success of unlatched 16-k dynamic RAMS, Intel is producing a new part, the 2117, that can operate either latched or unlatched. . . . Engineers at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, N. J., have developed a 16-k charge-coupled-device memory optimized for 10-megahertz operation. While there are 65-k CCD memo-ries, they operate in the 2-to-5 MHZ range. . . . Harris Corp. has unveiled four systems designed to automate newsrooms, composition rooms, and ad departments of smaller daily newspapers with circulations of 20,000 to 50,000. Harris's previous emphasis was on large metropolitan dailies. The smallest of the new 2530 series, the 2531, which has four computer-linked terminals, will sell for $225,000. Other prices range to $295,000. . . . NASA is going to reorganize its headquarters "by way of streamlining things," says Administrator Robert Frosch. Details are due in mid-November.


DDC offers two new hi-rel four-quadrant

multiplying hybrid D/A converters at

competitive prices. The MDA 100 is a true

10 bit multiplying D/A converter with a full 10 bit linearity. An 11 bit linearity unit is also available. The 16 pin MDA 100 is a pin-for-pin replacement for the Analog Devices AD-7520 and the Hybrid Systems HS-331.

The MDA 120 is a true 12 bit multiplying D/A con-verter with a full 12 bit linearity. This 18 pin device is pin compatible with the AD-7521.

Exclusive internal pull-up resistors guarantee logic compatibility. DDC's usual high reliability features include welded instead of soldered lid design for the ceramic package for the most rugged military and industrial applications. For hi-rel, high performance products DDC is

your first source. Write or call your nearest DDC representative, listed in EEM, or call Mike Andrews at 516-567-5600.

New Hi-Rel Multiplying DACs from D True lo or12 bit linearity. Meets MIL-STD-883 Class B.

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A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of ILC Industries, Inc.

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Skylab and Shuttle

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DOVER is the sole designer

of the ILC DATA

Airport International Plaza, Bohemia, New York 11716

516-567-5600 TWX 510-228-7324

West Coast: 7337 Greenbush Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91605 • 213-982-6454 Southwest: 5050 North 19th Ave., Suite 420, Phoenix, AZ 85015 • 602-249-0703 Circle 35 on reader service card

When the chips are down

The lowest cost, highest performance microprocessor wins.

And here it is: the 6500. A full family of nine software com-patible microprocessors, with com-prehensive interface circuits and all the supplementary memory you could need. The technology is N-Channel Silicon Gate with Deple-tion Load implementation and Ion Implantation.This means the smallest real estate coupled with high speeds and a host of performance benefits.

Low Cost. The 6500 is already established as the most popular third generation microprocessor family. We will ship 300,000 microprocessors this year, for good reason. More capability at remarkably low cost, for the chips themselves, and for the overall system.

The microprocessor itself is low cost because: • Smaller die than the 6800 or 8080. • 28 pin versions available ( pick the one that's right for you— pay only for what you need). • In high volume production — the more we make the better we get and the learning curve advantages derived are passed on to the customer.

Your system will be low cost because: • Less ROM required for program-ming code due to the flexibility provided by having 13 different addressing modes!! • Minimum system requires only 2 chips. Select one of our micro-processors, add a 6530 (RAM: ROM:I/O:Timer) and you have a microcomputer system. • Lower component costs.

High Performance. A fast 2MHz standard. At 2MHz, the 6500 has a potential throughput equal to a 6800 or 8080

running at 4MHz — if they could. All our microprocessors are software compatible within the group and bus compatible with the 6800. Makes it easy to improve performance and costs in existing 6800 applications.

True Pipeline Architecture. Unusual in a low cost microprocessor, but even as the 6500 microproces-sor is interpreting one instruction, it is accessing the next memory loca-tion. By doing its tasks in parallel, the 6500 attains tremendous system throughput, and overall performance you'd expect to cost much more.

Thirteen Addressing Modes and a Hest of Other Advantages. Our thirteen different addressing modes include zero page and in-direct indexed, features you'd not normally look for in a low cost micro-processor, but we have them.The flexibility of these addressing modes allows you to write your programs using an average of 20-40% less code. This means a savings in the amount of ROM required.

With a choice of internal or external clocks and drivers, you can optimize the costs vs. timing control requirements. The 6500 family operates from a

single 5 Volt power supply: it has true indexing capability, two inter-rupt modes and addressable memory range up to 65K bytes. It offers both decimal and binary arithmetic.

Outstanding Interface Chips. Our interface chips combine func-tionswhich requiied several packages in first generation microprocessor systems. All featu-e 8-bit bidirectional data bus for interface to the micro-processor. The SY6530 has a 1K byte ROM, 64 byte RAM, interval time ii and I/O. The SY6532 has 128 bytes of RAM, interval timer and I/O. The 5\16520 Peripheral Adapter has

two 8-bit bidirectional data ports, four peripheral control/interrupt lines and is available at either 1 or 2MHz. It is a high performance replacement for the 6820 Peripheral Adapter. The SY6522 Versatile Interface Adapter offers all of the features of the 6520 plus latching inputs, two fully-programmable interval timers/and an 8 bit shift register for serial interface.

Compatible RAMs and ROMs.

Where the application requires addi-tional memory, we offer fully com-patible 4K Static RAMs (2114) and 16K Static ROMs (2316A, 2316B). Our mask programmable ROMs are available in two week prototype turnaround, and we're geared for rapid shipments in production volumes.

Multiple Sources, of course. Rockwell and MOS Technology are shipping identical parts on all mem-bers of the 6500 microprocessor family and interface circuits. New designs are cross-fed among all three as part of the cross-licensing agree-ments. In addition to price and performance, you're assured of availability, too.

Complete Information is Free. We want you to know all about this low cost, high performance micro-processor family. For data sheets on any or all of our products, or more detailed information, call or write to: Jerry Demsky, Synertek, 3050 Coronado Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95051. (408) 984-8900. Twx: 910-338-0135.

Synertek Circle 37 on reader service card

Don't waste money and ruin PROMs.

Move up to a first-rate programmer. What defines a first-rate programmer?

A first-rate programmer is

easy to use, safe ( U.L. listed), reliable, backed with a long-term warranty, and flexible enough to handle advances in PROM tech-nology, a combination you get only with a Pro-Log programmer.

Our systems take the mistakes out of programming.

Our Series 90 PROM Programmer walks you through the programming process so there's less chance for misprogramming. Separate sockets for master and copy PROMs make it impossible to accidently destroy a valuable master.

Vendor-approved programming, full portability, free 2-year warranty.

Using vendor-approved PROM personality modules, Pro-Log's field- proven programmers program every major MOS and bipolar PROM.They also program generic PROM families and do gang programming.

They weigh less than 20 pounds so they go where you need them. And they're backed by the longest warranty in the industry, 2 full years parts and labor.

A first-rate programmer is economical, too.

A Series 90 master control unit costs only $1,800. A Series 92 PROM Duplicator master control unit costs only $1,145. Single PROM personality modules cost from $325 to $450. Generic modules start at $350. Gang modules which program 8 PROMs simultaneously are $895. All modules come U.L. listed and fit both the Series 90 and the Series 92. Options include CMOS RAM buffer (to 4K bytes), RS-232 (terminal or modem) interface,TTY, parallel interfaces, paper tape reader, U.L. listed erase light, check-sum option, and Auto- baud.*

Find out what else a truly first-rate programmer has to offer.

Call or write for a free pamphlet giving you comparison checkpoints. Pro-Log Corporation, 2411 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940. Phone (408) 372-4593.

PRO-LOG C OH PO H ATI ON

Microprocessors at your fingertips. * Trademark, Pro-Log Corporation


Electronics review Significant developments in technology and business

Optoelectronic plug-in modules aim at computers Hewlett-Packard designs

transmitter, receiver units

to be linked by fiber optics

for computer-interface chores

Now making headlines in telecom-munications, fiber optics may next make it big in computing systems, if Hewlett-Packard Co. has any hand in the matter. To encourage such a development, it has built optoelec-tronic replacements for conventional line drivers and receivers. The firm's Optoelectronics divi-

sion in Palo Alto, Calif., is readying a pair of transmitter and receiver hybrid-circuit modules designed to make things easy for a would-be user of fiber-optic cable. Moreover, ac-cording to HP'S project manager, Del Hanson, the modules are already being tried out by a select handful of original-equipment manufacturers. These include OEMS involved in computer-to-peripheral interface and process-control applications — areas HP will concentrate on develop-ing— as well as digital communica-tions. HP will not say who the OEMS are. Also included are groups in other HP divisions, whose feedback should influence the final design. System solution. "We have endea-

vored to solve a systems problem rather than just offer a bunch of parts the user musc put together," Hanson points out. Only a 5-volt supply is needed to put a user on the air once a fiber-optic cable has linked the transmitter and receiver modules diagrammed at the right. The light-emitting-diode transmitter contains a modulator interfaced with

the digital data input by transistor-transistor logic. The receiver module has a p-i-n photodiode detector and 100-decibel gain amplifier and in-cludes automatic leveling circuitry to accommodate a wide input dynamic range.

But HP has not stopped there. It has also designed into the receiver automatic monitoring circuitry that sends diagnostic pulses over the link to check for continuity even when no data is being transmitted. The optical line-coding technique on which the monitor relies is trans-parent to the user and has been patented by HP, Hanson says.

Each module comes in a five-pin, single in- line package with an optical-fiber connector. At 0.31 inch high, they are about the size of the small 9-v battery used in transistor radios and can be plugged right into existing data-communications systems. "They replace the line drivers and receivers that accept rn, inputs and operate over a twisted pair," says Joseph Bagley, HP'S

product marketing manager. Such twisted-pair links can reach

data rates of a few megabits per second, but only over relatively short distances, he explains. For longer distances, the data must be fed into

+5 V o.

DATA IN o

ON OFF ENABLE

TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR

LOGIC BUFFERS

o ONO

PULSE BIPOLAR ENCODING

LIGHT- EMITTING -DIODE DRIVER (TEMPERATURE AND VOLTAGE COMPENSATED)

BURRUS LED EMITTER

TRANSMITTER

OPTICAL PORT

HIGH GAIN AMPLIFIER

PI N PHOTO-DIODE DETECTOR

DECODING AND

COMPENSATION

AUTOMATIC LEVEL

CONTROL

TTL BUFFERS

OPTICAL PORT

-5 V o

LINK MONITOR

RECEIVER

o DATA OUT

MONITOR OUT

o

GNU

Almost complete. Transmitter and receiver modules contain the elements, like an automatic

level control, TTL buffers, and link monitor, that a user ordinarily would assemble separately.

All that is required now is a 5-V supply and an optical-fiber cable.


Electronics review

Pluggable. Pair of optoelectronic modules

plug into printed-circuit board, shown with

circuits for handling data-encoding chores.

modems and sent over a telephone line or dedicated in-plant line, but then data rates are more limited— to about 20 kilobits per second. The fiber-optic modules, on the

other hand, will handle far higher data rates— up to 10 megabits per second, synchronously or asynchro-nously— and for any distance up to a kilometer with no adjustments, Ba-gley points out. "With automatic leveling, the system behaves like a long rri_ gate and requires no adjust-ments to adapt to varying link lengths," he says. Also, the system is far more secure in noisy environ-ments and where protection against lightning and freedom from ground loops are essential.

Next year. "We expect to have fiber-optic modules on the market by the middle of next year," Bagley says. Except for the cable, HP will fabricate all of the system elements. These include the connector and the gallium-aluminum-arsenide Burrus-type LED that operates at 820 nano-meters in the infrared. Such LEDS have long been products of the Optoelectronics division, as well as photodiodes, optical couplers, and laser diodes. The LEDS deliver 100 milliwatts of

optical power into the fiber at a drive current of 35 milliamperes. Up to I km, the system's bit error rate will be 10 -9 for data rates to 10 Mb/s, according to Bagley. For shorter distances— up to about 300 meters — a 20-mb/s data rate with better error rates is possible. LI

Fiber optics

Computer uses

stir interest at IBM While Hewlett-Packard Co. readies its new optoelectronic modules, none other than ism is smiling on the application of fiber optics to the computer. At least, the technology was viewed favorably by R. Gary Burke, manager of advanced net-works at IBM Corp.'s System Com-munications division at Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, N. C., in a paper he delivered earlier this month at the International Telecommunica-tion Exposition in Atlanta.

Burke maintains that fiber optics will be welcomed into the computer itself, not just into the telecommuni-cations lines that link systems, because of problems insoluble with present technologies. This means that fibers could very well be replacing copper wires on a one-to-one basis, rather than being used for the multiplexing of thousands of signals that their huge bandwidths can readily permit. One reason, says Burke, is the density of interconnec-tions required for increasingly com-plex computers: as many as 100 fibers per linear inch can be packed together, compared with a limit of 20 wires. Moreover, other drawbacks of wire, such as electromagnetic interference, crosstalk, and the cost of copper itself, should spur develop-ment of cheap, noise-immune fiber-optic cabling, he points out. Market forecast. Agreeing with

Burke is Helmut F. Wolf, a vice president at the market research firm of Gnostic Concepts Inc., Men-lo Park, Calif. In a paper also delivered at the Atlanta meeting, he predicted that as early as 1980 there will be a $ 119 million worldwide market for optical fibers and con-nectors, and 16%— or about $ 19 million— will be used in computers alone. By 1990, in fact, Wolf even expects to see optical signals in data processing— involving fully inte-grated systems without the need for electro-optic conversion.

Burke divides the computer appli-cations into four areas according to path length. The longest runs will be in "data-highway" applications of up to about 3 kilometers— for example, in process-control systems where wires must be run from many sensors to central computers. The fibers' small size, low cost, and immunity to interference will make them a natural for the harsh envi-ronment of in- plant networks just as soon as reliable hardware for tap-ping the fiber-optic cables is avail-able, Burke says. The second area of applications is

in what Burke calls extended ma-chine rooms: computer centers with mainframes and peripherals requir-ing links of up to about 300 meters. Here, fiber optics can overcome the distance/data-rate tradeoffs of coax-ial cable, covering much greater distances without distortion. This is particularly important in parallel data transfer, where skew among channels is intolerable.

Burke's third computer hardware segment that could be served by fiber optics is on the level of local attachment — word-processing and small-business-system equipment in offices and contained within a diam-eter of 30 meters. The electrical isolation that fibers afford, as well as the ease with which they can be hidden, is unmatched by wiring.

Finally, fibers will work right down into the circuit board wiring itself, requiring lengths of 3 m and less. Here, fiber optics offering high interconnection density without crosstalk is right at home.

Hardware needed. When will the switchover from wires to fibers occur? As far as IBM is concerned, Burke refuses, of course, to say. But the transition hinges on more than IBM'S desires, for qualified hardware has yet to be made available. "We need more development of output devices and receivers," Burke says, to get out of what he calls "the crystal set age," referring to the days of radio some 75 years ago. Also needed are low-cost electro-optical interfaces, he adds, concluding, "we haven't even got a single inexpensive connector yet." LI


Photovoltalcs

Silicon ribbon attains

width of 3 inches He has been able to do it only twice now— pull silicon out of a melt in a ribbon that is 3 inches wide. But for A. I. Mlaysky the feat has heart-ening implications. "We have proven the basic postulate that we can grow silicon consistent with the goal of cutting solar cell costs to 50 cents per peak watt," says the executive vice president of Mobil Tyco Solar Energy Corp. in Waltham, Mass. But, he adds quickly, there is still much to be done to perfect the system, which relies on the process of edge-defined, film- fed ribbon growth that his company has pio-neered.

Cartridge. Until now, Mobil Tyco, formed in January 1975 by Mobil Oil Co. (which owns 80%) and Tyco Laboratories Inc. (20%), has been able to repeatably produce only l-and 2-in.-wide silicon ribbon. For the 3-in.-wide ribbon, it has built a special cartridge, shown at the top right, that is placed above the trough-like silicon furnace. The car-tridge guides and cools the ribbon as it is pulled through the same kind of die used in the company's conven-tional film-growth process.

Growth is initiated by touching a seed to the silicon meniscus that forms at the top of the die. The seed is then pulled up through the top of the approximately 9- in.- high car-tridge, and a belt and pulley system moves the ribbon up. The shape of the ribbon, including its thickness, is controlled by the dimensions of the slit in the die.

Altogether, about 4 feet of the 3-in. p-type silicon ribbon has been pulled through at a rate of 3 in. per minute, using one cartridge at a time. The ribbon has been about 0.5 millimeter thick. Thinner ribbon— less than 8 mils thick— would be suitable for solar cells and could be grown faster. But to grow ribbon faster, and thus bring costs down, Mlaysky counts on using several sets of die and cartridge simultaneously. For example, Mobil Tyco has grown three 1- in, ribbons at a time from a single melt and has built a cartridge and furnace system capable of producing five 2-in, ribbons at a time. The work is being done under

contract to the Department of Ener-gy as part of the Low-Cost Silicon Solar Array Project administered by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. The goal of the project is to produce solar cells costing 50 cents per peak watt of electric output power by the year 1986.

New high In solar panel efficiency While continuing to refine its cartridge-growth process for silicon ribbon, Mobil Tyco Solar Energy Corp. has also reached a new milestone in solar cell panel efficiency in a panel whose cells were made with its conventional edge-defined, film-fed growth ( EFG) process. A panel containing 42 cells each measuring 1 by 3/4 inch was rated earlier this month at an overall efficiency of 8.49%. Japan Solar Energy Co. recently reported efficiencies of 6.3% in commercially available panels made up of EFG-grown cells [Electronics, Oct. 13, p. 53]. The Japanese firm is partially owned and licensed for the EFG process by one of Mobil Tyco's parents, Tyco Laboratories Inc., headquar-tered in Exeter, N. H. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has reported panel efficiencies as high as

7.3% in panels made from circular cells that were part of a buy of 46 kilowatts of solar cells. Considering cell area alone, and not including the borders of the package, the Mobil Tyco panel has an efficiency of 9.3%. A. I. Mlaysky, executive vice president of the company, stresses, however, that the panel was carefully selected and that Mobil Tyco will not be in small-quantity production of such efficient panels until next year. "But it indicates what we can do with the EFG process," he observes.

GRAPHITE WALL

LINEAR COOLING PLATES FOR ANNEALING

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VIEWING SLOT

MOLTEN SILICON

Grower. Special Mobil Tyco cartridge helps cool 3-in.-wide silicon ribbon as it is pulled

from molten furnace. This annealing prevents brittleness and shattering.

Mlaysky explains that the work at this point is "aimed at getting the mechanical bugs out of the design," rather than producing good-quality silicon. " It's a very complicated piece of machinery," he says of the cartridge, "and we're working at modifying its cooling and heating systems." The cartridge overcomes one of

the biggest obstacles to fast ribbon growth: brittleness and the suscepti-bility of the ribbon to shattering. The wider ribbon can shatter easily if it cools too quickly after being pulled through the die. To solve the problem, Mobil Tyco's cartridge incorporates heat-removal elements made up of water-cooled shoes through which gases pass to cool the ribbon and solidify it faster. Then the ribbon is reheated and cooled to relieve the stresses that could cause shattering.

As the ribbon is pulled up through a set of cooling plates, its tempera-ture drops gradually from about 1,200°C to 600°C. The pulley and belt system that moves the ribbon through the die and cartridge is attached to the top of the latter. When the ribbon reaches an appro-priate height, it is scribed and broken off, to be cut later into indi-vidual rectangles for solar cells. How wide will Mobil Tyco even-

tually grow the ribbon? Mlaysky is


Electronics review

not sure. "The size of the solar cell would depend on the final panel size in terms of current and voltage and on the kind of cell-making ma-chinery that is available," he says. "A very large cell would, for exam-ple, be difficult to metalize, and there are limits on the sizes of diffu-sion furnaces and equipment for putting down antireflection coat-ings." Accordingly, Mlaysky believes that "somewhere between 3 and 4 inches at the narrowest could be optimum."

Displays

Ti's flat CRT is

simply a flat CRT The flat-screen replacement for the cathode-ray tube is being vigorously researched at various laboratories with such approaches as liquid-crys-tal, electroluminescent, and gas-discharge technologies. But why not just make a flat CRI? Workers at Texas Instruments Inc.'s corporate research lab in Dallas have done just that, building a CRT with a display area of 6 by 8 inches and a depth of

only 2 in. Comparable 10-in.-diag-onal tubes used in data terminals have a 12- in. depth. Two changes make the thin size

possible, says William C. Holton, director of the advanced components lab and the group leader on the project. First, the point cathode of the conventional CRT is replaced with an area cathode (an array of closely spaced filament wires). Sec-ond, a multilayer control and switch-ing stack is inserted between the cathode and phosphor screen. The switching stack individually

addresses each dot of the five-by-nine-dot matrix making up each of the screen's 1,920 alphanumeric characters. It consists of three layers, each with the five-by-nine hole pattern for the characters repeated 1,920 times. The first enables one horizontal character row at a time, while the second and third enable individual rows and columns of dots in each character. This reduces the number of addressing leads from the 590 typically required for a gas-plasma matrix display to only 108 for this tube, says Holton. The cathode is actually an array

of oxide-coated tungsten filament wires that generate electrons as a directly heated cathode. It takes

Experimental. Two-inch-deep cathode ray tube has 6-by-8-in. viewing area and relies on

electrons created by tungsten filaments that stream through holes in switching stack.

somewhat more power than the small cathode in a conventional CRT, Holton says, but the efficiency overall is about the same, since no power is required for deflecting the beam, as it is for the conventional tube with a deflection yoke.

Characters. The present version of the Ti tube, which will be described at the upcoming International Elec-tron Devices Meeting in Washing-ton, displays 24 rows of 80 charac-ters each. Although gray scale is achievable with pulse-width modula-tion of the addressing signals, Hol-ton says the major application appears to be in character displays.

Holton emphasizes that Ti's flat CRT is very much a research project. But he notes that most of the effort up until now has been directed toward alphanumeric displays, though video displays are not being ruled out. For such uses, the major problem will be in creating finer-hole geometries for the increased resolution that is required. El

Automotive

Electronics adjusts

shocks, smooths ride As American cars get smaller, can they still provide the good ride familiar with larger ones? Monroe Auto Equipment Co., the shock-absorber manufacturer, thinks it has come up with an electronic sensor that will help them do so.

Monroe's sensor replaces the me-chanical height leveler that is installed as an option on about 5% of the full-size cars sold today. But instead of relying on mechanical means to sense the axle- to-body distance, the firm has placed a light-emitting diode and a pair of photo-sensitive resistors inside the air chamber of a standard air-spring shock absorber. Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp. are reported to be testing the system, and General Motors Corp. is offering a similar electronic setup for the first time on 1978-model cars.

Air-spring shock absorbers, which


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Electronics review

AIR CHAMBER

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE

1 Level sensor. Oil tube is in a position to

block light from diode before it strikes

photoresistors to help set auto level.

PHOTO-RESISTORS

OIL- FILLED TUBE

combine the damping function of a piston in an oil-filled reserve tube with an air chamber that acts as a spring, help maintain a constant distance between the rear axle and the body of the car as loads are added. On trucks, such shock ab-sorbers are usually offered with a tire-type valve, and they can be filled with air at a service station after the truck is loaded. Car manufacturers, on the other hand, have added a mechanical leveling valve and air pump to come up with a system that automatically responds to any weight added to the car, preserving the original axle-to-body distance and thus the ride quality.

Replacement. Monroe has simply replaced the mechanical leveler with an optical height sensor and elec-tronic module. Unlike the mechan-ical device, it can be placed well away from the dirty and hazardous area beneath the car. "The idea of building a height sensor into an air shock isn't new, but previous at-tempts have been either mechanical or pneumatic and haven't worked out," says Robert W. Hegel, chief engineer for advanced engineering and research at the Monroe, Mich., firm.

In the electronic system, the photoresistors are mounted one above the other on a plastic card that curves around the inside of the air-spring chamber, as shown in the diagram. The card also contains, at the far end of the curved card, the

light-emitting diode, as well as an integral four-terminal connector. Silicone rubber glues the card to the chamber wall and also provides an air-tight seal for the terminals and maintains the spring's 200 pounds per square inch pressure.

Depending on load, the oil-filled tube moves within the air chamber, blocking the LED'S light from one, both, or neither of the photoresistors. An electronic module, located under the hood or in the passenger compartment and about the size of a pack of cigarettes, senses the voltage changes in the photoresistors. It contains two standard complemen-tary metal- oxide-semiconductor quad gates and a handful of discretes.

Logically done. "When the logic sees that the resistors are both on, it turns on an air pump to fill the shocks and raise the body; when they're both off, it turns on a sole-noid valve that bleeds the shocks," Hegel explains. A simple resistor-capacitor network builds in a 15-to-20-second time delay that blinds the system to normal suspension move-ments, such as those encountered on curves or when braking for a stop. The desired axle-to-body height can be held to within a quarter inch and is determined by the vertical place-ment of the photoresistors, which is different for every model car. "We can use off-the-shelf components because we're getting an airtight, light- tight, watertight chamber for nothing," Hegel says. Monroe is not giving the price of

its electronic system, which comes with an electric air compressor, but it should be tagged well under the $90 to $ 120 that the mechanical option now commands. Besides its cost savings, it should prove more reliable, Hegel stresses, because it reduces moving parts and is housed in a relatively benign environment. It also shaves two pounds from the leveling system.

For its electronic leveling system, General Motors' Delco Products division, Dayton, Ohio, opted to package the optical height sensor and electronic circuitry together in a 3-by-4-by-3/4-in. module fastened to

the auto body above the rear axle. Height changes caused by varying loads in the car are translated to a circular motion by a mechanical linkage, and a circular shutter breaks the light path between two LEDS and two phototransistors. Volt-age outputs are sensed by a custom p-channel mos device that also sets a delay before activating the air compressor or exhaust solenoid II

Military

Defense electronics

to up budget share U. S. spending increases for military missiles and space programs will help defense electronics contractors boost their share of U. S. military outlays from 18.2% next year to about 21% in the next decade. That is the latest estimate of the Elec-tronic Industries Association, in a forecast of military spending on elec-tronics through fiscal 1987 for three key Defense Department catego-ries — procurement, operations/ maintenance, and research, develop-ment, test, and engineering. After discounting an estimated annual inflation rate of 6%, the association sees outlays in those categories rising an average of 3.3% a year, even though the total defense budget grows no more than 1.4% annually.

Cruise missile programs are seen as a major factor in boosting missile electronics outlays to $3.4 billion in fiscal 1982 from the $2.3 billion level in fiscal 1977, which ended Sept. 30. Spending will then flatten out at about $3.5 billion a year as production programs stabilize and development is complete, according to Rockwell International's Wendell A. Johnson, who coordinated the forecast for the EIA.

Development of the advanced intercontinental missile known as M-X, for missile-experimental, de-pends on the outcome of arms-limi-tation talks with the Soviet Union, he points out. " But if sizable portions of the future budget are allocated to M-X, the total missile


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Electronics review

Waiting for the Energy Department

From the newly formed Department of Energy the message for electronics companies is "wait and see." According to Fred Weinholt, a staff assistant to James Schlesinger, the new energy secretary, the conflict between Congress and President Carter over the nation's energy strategy means that any department action must be put on hold. He told a seminar on opportunities for electronics companies in the Energy

Department at the Electronic Industries Association annual meeting, held in San Francisco this month, that "about all that is certain is that there is an Energy Department and that its responsibility is energy." With a first-year budget of $ 10.4 billion, it already has 20,000 employees overseeing a grab bag of responsibilities from such agencies as the Interior Department (power marketing such as the Bonneville Power Administration); the Interstate Commerce Commission (oil rates); Housing and Urban Development (housing energy standards); and the old Federal Energy Administration and the Energy Research and Development Administration.

Although this conglomerate has been reorganized and split into three key divisions— basic research, demonstration, and commercial development— the exact organizational structure has not been worked out yet. " It's no use giving you names, titles and responsibilities," Weinholt says, "because tomorrow it could all be different." Except for Schlesinger and his immediate assistants, top assistant-secretary and administrative jobs have not been permanently filled. " Until the current congressional debate over the energy bill is settled, it's anybody's guess as to when the positions will be permanently filled," he says.

In spite of the organizational uncertainty, there is no shortage of contracting money. The biggest chunk —$2.8 billion -- goes to the new energy technology office for work on solar, geothermal, fossil, magnetic fusion, and nuclear energy.

Under the new system, the energy research office handles basic research. Then the energy technology office will take over once a project has reached demonstration levels. Finally, the resources applications arm will launch a push for commercial development if that seems appropriate.

electronics content will rise drasti-cally" from the projected average of 38.2%, he says.

Countering threats. Acceleration of military space programs to coun-ter new Soviet anti-satellite satellites coupled with enhancement of U. S. reconnaissance capabilities could produce explosive growth in space electronics over the decade. Penta-gon outlays are expected to climb, especially in the first half of the 10-year period. They should climb from $790 million in fiscal 1978 to nearly $1.2 billion in fiscal 1982 and then remain essentially stable through 1987. The Carter Administration is pressing to hold defense spending down over the near term, so avionics outlays are forecast to slip from the fiscal 1978 high of $3.32 billion to $3.17 billion by fiscal 1981. The increases in missile and space elec-tronics spending are expected to offset this decline, also caused by the

completion of much of the R&D for new tactical aircraft, Johnson says. Increases in missile electronics should offset losses caused by this summer's cancellation of Rockwell's B-1 strategic-bomber program.

But Johnson's forecast team sees a revitalization of the military avionics market in fiscal 1982, as a new RDT&E cycle begins for the next generation of warplanes. Outlays will begin climbing slowly, reaching a high of $4.3 billion in 1987. On the Navy side, the association

forecasts an electronics program that is essentially stable with slight growth, according to Johnson. Ef-forts to cut military spending could produce a small cutback in the first five years, he points out. But present estimates are that the market will climb from $ 1.5 billion in fiscal 1978 to $2 billion in fiscal 1982 and then grow slowly to a $ 2.3 billion peak by the end of the 10-year period.

Meetings

Midcon show looks

like a hit in Chicago There is now no electronics market-place as diverse as in the Midwest, yet only five years ago most of its industries had not discovered elec-tronics. To mark these manufac-turers' interest, they will have their own electronics show next month in Chicago. Officially, it is called Midcon/77, and one wag has already titled the exhibition "the electronics show for the nonelec-tronics industries."

All signs point to Midcon's suc-cess, a coup for Electrical and Elec-tronics Exhibitions Inc., the organi-zation that runs the Electro and Wescon shows. Like its East Coast and West Coast siblings, Midcon will travel to a different city each year, so EEEI will have almost blan-keted the country with alternating, regional electronics shows. Next year, Midcon will bow in Dallas, and tentative plans call for a Chicago encore in 1979 and an Atlanta site in 1980. Backed by local sections of the

Institute of Electrical and Elec-tronics Engineers and the Electronic Representatives Association, EEE1 will have succeeded in the heartland market, a geographic and industrial sprawl that has killed off other attempts at electronics shows. This year's Microfair, for example, was a Wema-planned show that did not get off the ground. Chicago's National Electronics Conference, thriving at McCormick Place in the 1960s, dwindled to nothing in 1976, al-though it returned this month in an abbreviated format without exhibi-tors.

Electronics manufacturers, how-ever, are backing Midcon resound-ingly. Some 220 exhibitors will fill almost 400 booths when the doors open Nov. 8 at the O'Hare Exposi-tion Center in suburban Chicago. While that is not up to Electro 77's 560 booths, or Wescon/77's 687, it is well over Midcon's 250-booth pro-


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Electronics/ October 27, 1977 Orce 47 on reader service card 47

Electronics review

jection. Also it bucks the wait-and-see attitude of manufacturers that prevails at most new shows and is robust support for a show announced in February, after many firms had already decided where to spend their show money for the year. Atten-dance at the three-day affair should hit 15,000, officials estimate. A whopping attendance, of course,

is what exhibitors demand from any show, and the technical program is a major attraction for many people. Midcon has marshaled 30 technical sessions, to be housed at the neigh-boring Hyatt Regency O'Hare Ho-tel, which it hopes reflect the person-ality of the show's 400-mile radius.

Starring part. Fully a third of the program deals exclusively with the microprocessor, the component that has brought Midwestern manufac-turers of such diverse equipment as automobiles, appliances, farm equip-ment, machine tools, pin-ball ma-chines, and steel into the electronics business. Reflecting the problem of applying electronics to electrome-chanical gear, the sessions stress microprocessor interfacing and pe-ripherals rather than architecture and memory.

Other sessions are devoted to process control, automotive electron-ics, and satellite-based remote earth sensing, for example. The program also lists four sessions on various communications topics, a pair on medical electronics, and a grab bag of others that range from advanced battery systems to product liability. Kicking off Midcon is a day-long marketing workshop pointed toward distributors and manufacturers' rep-resentatives, often the key marketing force pushing electronic technology at the industrial manufacturer. The technical program may spell

success or failure for the convention, but Midcon already boasts a number of exhibitors that have not been showing at either Wescon or Electro. These include Signetics, Macrodata Corp., Texas Instruments' Industrial Controls department, and NCR'S Mi-croelectronics division. More impor-tant, EEEI has already started signing up exhibitors for the December 1978 Dallas version, using an Electro-

News briefs

English acquire Dana Laboratories Dana Laboratories Inc., Irvine, Calif., a leading U. S. maker of digital voltmeters and electronic counter-timers, has been acquired for $3.5 million by England's Racal Electronics Ltd. Dana will be combined with Racal Instruments Ltd., to form Racal-Dana Instruments Inc., headed in the U. S. by Webb Scroggin, Dana Labs' president. Earlier this year, a Racal company acquired Migo Electronic Corp., Miami, Fla., in the data communications field. Dana Labs' old parent, Dana Electronics Inc., Newport Beach, Calif., retains its other primary subsidiaries, EIP Inc. and Cushman Electronics Inc.

ITT Semiconductors closing Florida site Because of losses incurred in the manufacture of military high-reliability and certain other integrated-circuit lines, ITT Semiconductors is closing its U. S. division's wafer fabrication facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. The closure, with the loss of 300 jobs, will be completed early next year. The company will transfer production of its commercial bipolar and linear IC lines to a newly leased 160,000-square-foot plant in Lawrence, Mass., adjacent to its present discrete semiconductor production facility.

Physicist gains recognition as "Father of the Laser" The U. S. Patent Office has granted Gordon Gould a patent for his invention of "optically pumped laser amplifiers." Says Eugene Lang, president of REFAC Technology Corp., which owns licensing rights to the patent and all future laser-related patents of Gould, "all lasers that employ optically pumped amplification will be deemed to fall within the scope of Gould's patent." REFAC is offering nonexclusive licenses to companies whose laser activities are considered subject to the patent, No. 4,053,845.

Zenith sets further cutback of U. S. operations Further cutting back its domestic operations to maintain profitability, Zenith Radio Corp. will sell its hearing aid business later this month to Zenetron Inc. The firm was organized to take over the division by F. William Carr, oil and gas investor in Texas, and James H. Johnson, who ran the division from 1971 to 1975. Zenith, which pioneered the miniaturization of hearing aids and batteries, has had annual hearing aid sales of about $ 15 million. The firm earlier announced plans to move extensive parts of its color television operations offshore [Electronics, Oct. 13, p. 69].

FCC expects flood of interconnect registrations in November The Federal Communications Commission expects to be inundated in November by applications from foreign and domestic manufacturers to register terminal equipment for direct connection to the nation's telephone network. The FCC opened the flood gates when it said its registration program became "effective immediately" following the U. S. Supreme Court ruling early this month upholding interconnection without the need for carrier-supplied protective couplers [Electronics, Oct. 13, p. 38]. To ease its burden, the FCC has published a new consolidated list of grandfathered terminal equipment that need not be registered if connected by Jan. 1, 1978. Equipment of these types must have been directly connected to the network in accordance with telephone company tariffs before May 1, 1976, and be able to function standing alone.

Expansion of CB service to 224-225 MHz rejected by FCC A proposal to expand citizens' band radio frequencies to include 224 — 225 MHz has been rejected by the FCC as obsolete. The 1973 petition for the new Cfass E service was made by the Electronic Industries Association for CB and land-mobile radio manufacturers as a means of relief from crowded channels and high equipment costs. The fact that it took the FCC four years to reach a conclusion was blasted by the EIA, which labeled the ruling "a serious mistake" but said it plans no appeal at this time.


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Electronics review

Midcon-Wescon three-show alter-nate-city package that allows an electronics manufacturer to cover 80% of its market by attending the regional shows for two years.

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A new word hit the power-semicon-ductor marketplace earlier this month. The word is transcalent, a Latin derivative meaning permeable to heat, and it is being applied by RCA Corp.'s Electro-Optics and De-vices division, Lancaster, Pa., to a new family of power devices.

Samples. The devices include 250-ampere rectifiers with blocking voltages of 1,200 volts, 100-A tran-sistors with voltages to 800 y, and 400-A thyristors. RCA is finally supplying samples after development that goes back at least to a 1972 contract from the U. S. Army Mo-bility Equipment Research and De-velopment Command, Fort Belvoir, Va. Initial applications will be mili-tary, in ground-based power condi-tioning, for example, as well as in airborne electrical systems, motor speed control, and radar power supplies now served by "hockey-puck" and stud-mounted devices. The high-power semiconductor-

device market is now pegged at an annual $40 million and could grow to $ 120 million in five years, accord-ing to division vice president Ralph E. Simon. Prices for the RCA parts right now are just as hefty as the devices' ratings, ranging from

Hest-plped. RCA's 250-ampere rectifier

weighs 12 ounces, occupies less than 14 in. 3

$1,125 for the rectifier to $ 1,825 for the transistor in small quantities.

Unlike conventional devices that add bulky heat sinks and heat-dissi-pating fins externally, RCA bonds one end of the heat pipe directly to the wafer surface and then adds fins to the other end. Water in the sealed pipe absorbs heat from the wafer and gives it up to the fins. The results are power devices a quarter the size and 15% the weight of existing units of equivalent rating, says Simon. For example, the 250-A rectifier weighs 12 ounces and occu-pies less than 14 cubic inches; the 100-A transistor dissipates 500 w, weighs under 2 pounds and occupies less than 70 in.3. By this time next year, Simon

expects to be making preproduction quantities and the prices to range from $400 to $800. Full production is three years away.

Westinghouse Corp.'s Semicon-ductor division in Youngwood, Ohio, a major supplier of hockey-puck and stud-mounted devices, "is not doing anything similar to transcalent de-vices," says marketing manager Stan Hunt.

Earlier this month, Westinghouse unveiled a new line of disk-type devices with new heat-sink designs that it says can handle 50% more power than earlier designs. As for General Electric Co.'s Semiconduc-tor Products department in Syra-cuse, N. Y., it is studying heat pipes but has developed nothing yet. D

Fiber optics

Plastic cable works

well in infrared Most fiber-optic systems today em-ploy silica-based fibers because they are good transmitters of light in the near-infrared spectrum, and it is in this area that light sources and detectors are most highly developed. But now, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. has developed an all-plastic fiber cable that looks like it could take over from its silica counterpart at least in optoelectronic systems


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Electronics review

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that require short cable runs. The advantages of plastic over

glass hold just as true for fiber-optic cable as they do in the everyday consumer world: plastic more easily withstands stresses of pulling and bending. The cable loss- 340 deci-bels per kilometer — is still higher than that of glass fibers. But Kenneth Kamm, marketing special-ist at du Pont's Plastics Department in Wilmington, Del., says the plastic cable (called the series PFX-PIR) could find a niche in computer, office-machine, and industrial con-trol equipment, wherever less than 100 meters of cable is required. At these lengths, a 50- megabit-per-second data rate is possible, and the transmission loss would be quite tolerable, he maintains. Another advantage is that the larger diameter of the core of the plastic fibers couple light from the IR source more efficiently than does silica cable.

Light limit. Previously, plastic fiber-optic cables were limited to transmission chores in the visible-light region. At the longer infrared wavelengths the vibrations of car-bon-hydrogen bonds occurring in the plastic bulk materials caused very high transmission losses— around 900 decibels per kilometer. This loss mechanism is similar to that experi-enced in silica-core fibers caused by oxygen-hydrogen bonds. "Since plas-tic-bulk material consists essentially of carbon-hydrogen bonds, it was difficult to circumvent," Kamm says. " But we finally found a way to replace hydrogen with deuterium so that the resulting carbon-deuterium bond vibrations caused much less attenuation at the longer infrared wavelengths." He says that the single- fiber

PFX-PIR cables are just going on the market at a price of $2.25 per meter. Light sources would be a problem, he concedes, because the plastic operates best at 780 nano-meters, whereas most conventional gallium-aluminum-arsenide lasers and light-emitting diodes are at the longer 820 nm. However, he believes sources could be tailored to the higher frequency simply by upping the concentration of aluminum.


The complete $795 graphics plotter.

It's ser contaried, plots 8,192 dots per secolc', and is pruced

thousands of dotars less than others.

Theï said it couldn't be done! Recently, we introduced the

EX-800, a complete 80 character line printer for just $655. Now meet the Axiom EX-810 graphics plotter, our printer's younger and smarter brother, incredibly priced at $ 795'

"You can't build a plotter for $795,'' we were told. But we have. Using the same simple, reliable marriage of mechanics and electronics that made our printer an instant success.

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print 3,192 dots per second with up to 512 dots per row. Under software control, the EX-810 can also function as an 80 column alphanumeric line printer with speeds up to 160 cps.

The plotter has been designed to be driven by an 8-bit microprocessor with a minimum of software over-head. The built-in TTL compatible controller takes care of all of the timing functions required to drive the printhead and advance the printer.

The advantage of electrosensithre plotting

Electrosensitive plotting is the key to the high performance and low cost of the EX-810, because this technique is the simplest possible way lo place a visible mark on paper.

The advantages are many. The permanence of the hardcopy, unaffected by sunlight, moisture, heat or age. The shelf-life is indefinite, and the high contrast makes excellent photocopies. Also,

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the paper is inexpensive, and readily available, costing less than le per plot.

LigtrAveight and rugged Designed for the OEM, the

EX-810, which can print forms, tickets, maps, pictures, charts, logos or anything you want, is completely self-contained including case, power supply, and paper roll holder. Weighing in at 12 lbs., the plotter is only 95/8" wide, 37pá" high and 107/8" deep.

The EX-810 is virtually maintenance free, too. The simple, non-impact print mechanism has an amazing MTBF of 11.6 million lines, and the print-head is self-adjusting. Also, there are no inky ribbons to change.

The EX-810 graphics plotter ushers in a new era. Phone or write for OEM prices today.

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If you're working with switching-type power supplies, you'll want to know about new electrolytic capac-itors featuring low equivalent series resistance (for example, 3 me @ 57,000 MF/7.5V) and low internal in-ductance. Type 622D EXTRALYTIC' Capacitors are the first of their type to meet the power supply designer's need to know, for worst case design, the maximum and minimum ESR of a capacitor, as well as the need to hold the nominal ESR to a tolerance of 1-30% at 20 kHz. To simplify calculations for the

equipment designer, Type 622D capacitors have a symmetrical capac-itance tolerance of a tight -1-20% instead of the wide asymmetrical tolerance customarily associated with low-voltage electrolytic capac-itors. These new capacitors are de-signed for operation over the wide

temperature range of — 55°C to +85°C. They are furnished in a 1%" diameter case with lengths ranging from 21/8" to 5%". Capacitance values from 2,800 to 67,000 /IF are available as standard, and voltage ratings range from 5 to 55 WVDC.

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Washington newsletter

Navy to buy The Naval Electronic Systems Command wants to buy up to two dozen shipboard X-band satellite communications terminals based on a new

X- band satcom Naval Research Laboratory prototype and is calling for production ship termlnals ... proposals from industry. The classified Interim High Data Rate Terminals

will be used with the defense satellite communications system spacecraft known as DSCS-2 for ship-to-shore communications. Using an estimated $1.5 million in Navelex funds, an NRL team developed the first of the X-band terminals in 18 months— 3 months ahead of schedule— with industry subcontractors. The first terminal, described as compact, reliable, and produced at drastically reduced cost, has been installed on a small, university-owned oceanographic research vessel and operating for about a month with the satcom satellite system.

... Harris Corp. seen

as contender for

new NRL system

One sure bidder for the IHDRT production award, say industry officials, is Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla., which assembled the NRL terminal and also supplied the system's up- and down-converters and modem. The modular system transmits digital pulse-shift-key signals in the 7.9-to-8.4-GHz band and receives at 7.25 to 7.7 GHZ. Data rate is classified.

Sharp cost reductions of up to 80% for some components were achieved by integration of the modules at the subassembly level, according to the NRL team headed by Charles Stillings. Team member Philemon Johnson says, for example, that the cost of the integrated high-power amplifier produced by ITT Corp., Nutley, N. J., was cut to 20% that of earlier units using subassembly integration. The ITT unit incorporates a Raytheon Co. driver for intermediate power amplification and a klystron tube and output assembly produced by two separate units of Varian Associates. Other major modules include an AN/URQ-23 frequency standard from Frequency Electronics Inc., New Hyde Park, N.Y.; antenna and power amplifier by Datron Systems Inc., Chatsworth, Calif., plus a digital servo controller to be delivered by the Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego.

Lockheed picks CDC's Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. has picked Control Data Corp.'s AN/UYK-25 computer over Sperry Univac's AN/UYK-7 for the Air

UYK-25 computer for Force Precision Location/Strike System (PLss). Prime contractor Lock-strike system heed, which received $ 120.3 million in June for full-scale development of

one preoperational PLSS system, awarded CDC'S Aerospace division an initial $7.8 million subcontract. The Lockheed PLSS is designed for tactical use against air defense systems, intercepting electromagnetic emissions from enemy detection and guidance radars used to control antiaircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. The UYK-25 computers, housed in a ground-based central processing center, will process intercepted emissions and feed location information to tactical control centers for air strike planning. The PLSS computers will each have 11 core memory banks of 65,000 32-

bit words with a 1.2-microsecond cycle time. All of the memories can be on line and accessed simultaneously, CDC says. The computers also will have four processors and two input/output units, plus a central processor with its own memory and uo controller.


Washington newsletter

Three electronic

materials tests set

for space shuttle

TDMA terminals

complete flight

tests at Boeing

Europe to provide

camera, solar array

for space telescope

Three of the first five materials-processing experiments to be packaged and flown on one of the early orbital flight tests of the space shuttle in 1979 will involve electronic technologies, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Called the Materials Experiment Assembly, the package of experiments was chosen by NASA'S Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., because it could be automated and unattended in a self-contained unit with its own power source and a minicomputer to collect data. The electronics-oriented experiments and their principal investigators

are: vapor growth of alloy-type semiconductor crystals by Herbert Wiede-meier, Rennsselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y.; containerless prepa-ration of advanced optical glasses by Ralph Happe, Rockwell Interna-tional, Downey, Calif.; and performance of solid electrolytes containing dispersed particles by J. Bruce Wagner Jr. of Arizona State University, Tempe.

The massive triservice digital communications network known as JTIDS— for Joint Tactical Information Distribution Systems— moved one more step forward in development with Boeing Aerospace Co.'s completion of flight tests of the program's time-division multiple-access (TDMA) system one month ahead of schedule. Terminals were installed aboard an E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft — Awacs is the first scheduled military user of 'rpm A — and an Air Force NKC-135 test aircraft. The two planes communicated between themselves and two Boeing ground terminals in engineering and evaluation tests begun late in June to qualify the new communications link. A second set of flight tests is set for the spring of 1978 using a TDMA terminal with an advanced waveform now being developed.

Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Ground Systems division designed and built the basic terminal equipment now in integration testing at Boeing. The Air Force, which is managing JTIDS for triservice use, is developing other TDMA terminals for use by fighter aircraft, field soldier manpacks, and command and control centers. JTIDS will permit up to 1,000 users to exchange information securely over a single jam-resistant channel with traffic flow automatically controlled by built-in system clocks. Security and jam resistance are achieved by spread-spectrum modulation and built-in cryptographic techniques.

The European Space Agency will supply NASA with the faint-object camera and the spacecraft solar power array for the space telescope mission. Scheduled to be placed in a 310-mile orbit in 1983 by the space shuttle, the 10-ton cylindrical observatory will study the universe with much higher resolution than has ever been possible before. Under the mid-October agreement between NASA and its European

counterpart, the camera and its associated photon-counting detector will provide high-resolution imagery from the 1,000-to- 3,000 angstrom ultra-violet region through the visual portion of the spectrum to the near-infrared. The camera will be able to separate objects less than Vio of second of arc apart and observe remote celestial objects that are nearly 100 times fainter than those observable during its projected 10-year lifetime. In return for its participation, ESA astronomers will be allocated 15% of the telescope's observation time.


Here in Wabash James Pobst can sell his eggs for less . because he grows his own feed. We make relays the same way- sort of.

We make our own switches. That not only helps lower the cost of our relays, it does something else that's important.

Since James Pobst knows what's gone into his chickens, he knows what kind of eggs he's going to get. Same way with us. We know what our relays with our switches in them are going to do. And just to make sure—we run over

3 billion test cycles a day.

That's what you get in a Wabash relay— performance you can count on— no matter which of over 6000 variations you select. Of course all meet proposed

NARM and EIA standards.

But as we say— the best news is our price. Why not call us for a quote on a dry reed

relay now. Look at it this way. If you found out later you could have purchased a better relay at a lower price from

us— you'd have egg on your face.

of Wabash, Indiana

- «;4*

rrryl+rti

and Huntington, Indiana: Farmington. Missouri; Tipton, Iowa and South Boston, Virginia

For information and quotes write or call: Wabash, hc.. Dept. RC7, 810 N. Cass St., Wabash, Ind. 46992 Tel: 219/563-2191 TWX 810-290-2722

The Econo-Miser. The most automatically manufactured dry reed relay available. I and 2 pole standard types. Less than one dollar in quantity.

Circle 5q_

on reader service card

Europe The New Fronde Ever thought of manufacturing and marketing in Europe? We at Grundy International may be able to offer you the chance NOW.

As a long established medium-sized British Group of companies with considerable design and manufacturin expertise in electronic and electro-mechanical equipment, a strong international marketing operation and good existing links with European Commerce and Industry as well as within the various Defense Departments, we can offer you:

* A Marketing Capabi

* A Product Design and Development Capability

* Manufacturing under License to Testing Quality Standards (DEF.05-2

* Specialist Sub-Contracting

* A Local Servicing Capability

If you are a small or medium-sized manufacturer of electro-mechanical/ electronic equipment wanting to expand by establishing an export business in Bu Europe or the Third write TODAY with d your products—

To Owen Boydell, Managing Director.

SW GRUNDY IN 1ERNATIONAL LTD Somerset Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11

England. Tel: 01-977 1171.Telex: 929728-Grundyte Circle 60 on reader service card

International newsletter

Britain's CAA says The Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom is offering its test tests gave OK to its aircraft and tracking equipment for side-by-side comparison of the British

and American contenders for the next generation of instrument landing plane-landing system systems. The CAA says the UK doppler microwave landing system has

passed tests at Brussels International Airport, Kjevick Airport, Norway, and Stansted Airport in England — in addition to earlier trials at Gatwick Airport outside London [ International Newsletter, Sept. 15]. An earlier computer simulation at the Brussels airport gave the American time-reference scanning-beam contender a clean bill of health, while predicting that the UK system would experience unacceptable errors due to multipath reflections at certain airports. The CAA says its flight trials gave no indication of such an effect at any of the test airports. Final choice for a new worldwide standard is to come at the April 1978 conference of the ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Authority.

$30 million of TV gear Thomson-csF has won what looks to be the major contract for television equipment for the 1980 Moscow Olympics with an order worth more than

for Moscow Olympics $30 million. According to Thomson, the order was won against competi-from Thomson-CSF tion from all major worldwide TV suppliers—with RCA breathing hotly

down Thomson's neck. The French firm is to provide a video- and sound-switching center that will be the world's largest when put into operation, plus a wide range of equipment for news gathering and image processing. The equipment includes 100 color TV cameras, which will supplement the 80 already in the USSR and 40 mobile microwave units, plus ancillary equipment such as color monitors and character generators.

Membrain unveils Spearheading Membrain's 1978 entry into the U. S. market for printed-circuit-board testers will be its new MB 7700 range of board test systems,

automatic test equipment which can exercise 256 transistor-transistor-logic pins simultaneously at 5

aimed at U. S. market MHz. They are the outcome of a two-year development program costing over $2.5 million, partly funded by Britain's National Research and Development Corporation. Common to all systems is an 8-MHz bipolar bit-slice 16-bit microprocessor, which controls a floppy disk, display, and keyboard. Membrain uses Intel's 2-bit-wide chip set stitched together with read-only-memory firmware. The driver and sense electronics associated with each test pin has been reduced to single bipolar LSI chips with semicustom designs from Ferranti Ltd. and the U. S. firm Interdesign Inc. The software is modular, and there are two test-program languages, Memtest and Atlas, the international test language.

Ferranti executives In a make-or-break bid to win Interdesign, the Sunnyvale, Calif., semi-custom design company, a task force of Ferranti executives headed by

in Ca lifornia Alan Shepherd, manager of the Components division and Brian Down, for Interdesign talks marketing manager of Ferranti Semiconductor Ltd., are in the U. S. for

talks with Hans R. Camenzind, president of the privately held firm. The companies have a similar approach to making and marketing semicustom designs by specially configuring the final metalization of their chips, which are otherwise standard, carefully chosen circuits. Ferranti has reportedly raised its first offer of $92 million for a 56% controlling interest to $4.66 a share for all unsold stock— at a price of roughly $ 3.5 million.


THE FIRST MULTI-PROTOCOL MOS/LSI DEVICE FOR MC AND HOW

Now IN STOCk Standard Microsystems' new COM 5025 multi- protocol communications controller, is a 40- pin monolithic IC using the COPLAMOS 13, n-channel silicon gate process. It replaces hundreds of IC's and operates at speeds up to 2 M baud.

The device is a universal synchronous receiver/ transmitter for dedicated control and implementation of all major protocols, including bit- oriented types such as SDLC, HDLC, and ADCCP, and byte-oriented BISYNC and DDCMP. It is the first programmable chip controller approved for these protocols and the only one that processes both SOLO and HDLC protocols. The COM 5025 is processor compatible (8 or 16 bit),

and direct TTL compatible, and contains selectable protocols and a tri-state input/output bus. The data, status, and control registers are double buffered. Full or half duplex operation is provided by means of indepen-dent transmitter and receiver clocks.

Data lengths are individually selectable for receiver and transmitter from 1 to 8 bits. Data, status and control registers are linked to a master reset which initializes them to the SOLO protocol on power-up. This device also has a built in maintenance feature to test the opera-tion of the chip by performing data loop-around internally. The controller of the device is responsible for all

higher level decisions and interpretation of some fields • within message frames. The degree to which this occurs is dependent on the protocol being implemented. The receiver and transmitter logic operate as two totally independent sections with a minimum of common logic.


For bit-oriented protocols such as SOLO, HDLC and ADCCP, the COM 5025 provides bit stuffing and stripping, automatic frame character detection and gen-eration, and residue handling. Messages which terminate with a partial data byte are accompanied by the number of valid data bits available.

Options for bit protocols include variable length data (1 to 8 bit), error checking-16 bit polynomial CRC (or CCITT), primary or secondary station address mode, APA all parties address, extendable address field to any number of bytes, extendable control field to 2 bytes, and idle mode to transmit flag characters or mark the line.

For byte-oriented protocols the COM 5025 features automatic detection and generation of SYNC characters, and options such as variable length data, variable SYNC characters ( 5, 6, 7, or 8 bits), error checking —16 bit polynomial CRC (or CCITT) or odd/even parity, deletion of leading SYNC characters after synchronization, and an idle mode to transmit SYNC characters or to mark the line. COM 5025 devices are now available in quantity from

SMC and their distributors.

STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS RPORATIO

The largest manufacturer of data communication circuits

35 Marcus Boulevard, Hauppauge, N.Y. 11787 (516) 273-3100 TWX-510-227-8898

Electronics international Significant developments in technology and business

Microprocessors go to the front lines

in communications, test gear

Microprocessors and other digital circuitry are answering the call to arms from Racal Tacticom Ltd., which commands a worldwide mili-tary market in high-frequency and very-high-frequency tactical com-munications equipment. The subsid-iary of Racal Electronics Ltd. is launching a strike force of new army gear incorporating up-to-date semi-conductor technology. The new equipment includes a

400-watt tactical hf radio station that uses a chip in its antenna matching and tuning unit and two manpack hf radios and an associated 100-w station that has a semicon-ductor memory in its tuning unit. The British firm also is introducing a range of test gear for production and field use that includes fault-diag-nosis units that use processors.

Powerful radio. The 400-w hf communication system is intended for reliable long-range communica-tions from front-line positions to general headquarters under the most adverse conditions. The company has strapped four of its well-proven 10(7-w amplifiers into a single unit to produce an output usually associated with fixed transmitters. To provide the degree of frequen-

cy agility necessary to defeat enemy jamming, the new tactical system has a new antenna matching and tuning unit, the VRA549. This unit automatically tunes to any specified frequency in the 2-to-30-megahertz band in less than 1.5 seconds. Under microprocessor control,

high-speed vacuum relays switch in reactive components to compensate for changes in antenna impedance at various operating frequencies. The processor thus minimizes the anten-na voltage-standing-wave ratio, and so it minimizes the power reflected back into the transmitter. Racal

already is using this technique in its 100-w units, but will not disclose the type of microprocessor it is using. Conventionally, tuning is by servo-controlled variable reactors and can take as long as 35 seconds. The new 10-w manpack radios are

half the weight and size of most competitors. By combining thick-film techniques with linear and digital integrated circuits, Racal has reduced the weight to 16/2 pounds and the size to 1/5 cubic foot. The PRM 4021 covering the 2-to- 16- MHz range has 140,000 channels in 100-hertz steps, while the PRM 4031 covering the 1.6-to-30-mHz range has 284,000 channels in 100-Hz steps.

When the PRM 4031 is combined with Racal's 100-w amplifier, the result is a vehicle-mounted base station for the manpacks. This unit, the VRM4145, features a pro-grammable 10-channel frequency se-lector. An external encoder unit loads the predetermined channel frequencies into the digital memory within the transceiver. The memory, which incorporates a standby battery supply, sets the frequency synthe-sizer to the desired channel. The operator can quickly change

channels with the flick of a switch. When the VRM4145 is in this auto-matic channel-selection mode, the digital-logic circuitry that divides the single-crystal frequency refer-

switch. Frequency selection in Racal field transceiver is programmable for quick

channel selection. Any 10 frequencies in the range may be entered in a memory.


Electronics international

ence to produce the encoded channel frequencies gets the required fre-quency from a semiconductor shift register.

Diagnosing faults. Racal's new range of automatic test equipment includes complex test systems that will carry out digital and analog dc-to-rf tests on complete communi-cations systems and printed-circuit-board testers capable of identifying faulty components. The equipment has been designed around Computer Automation's Naked Mini 16- bit processor. Two standouts in this range of ATE gear are fault-diagnosis systems, one that incorporates the Naked Mini and the other a rugged microprocessor- based system for field workshops. The larger of the two systems, the

RTL5, can be used to prepare and edit programs for testing new equip-ment. These programs also can be run on the RTL5M, which has a Motorola 6800 microprocessor con-trolling a floppy-disk and display unit. Once loaded with the appro-priate program, the 6800 guides the operator through a series of fault-location procedures displayed on the screen.

These new systems should help Racal Tacticom keep its export drive going. Late last month, it won a $25 million contract from an unspecified North African country to supply various tactical radio systems and test gear. Also, it has sold about $126 million worth of Clansmen transceivers in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Moreover, the firm is bidding with RCA Corp. on the U. S. Army's huge Sincgars-V combat-radio contract. The parent firm is doing well, too: it is acquiring Dana Laboratories Inc., the Irvine, Calif., instrument maker [p. 48]. E

Japan

Simple microkit

serenades its user Not every microcomputer user wants a machine that can produce elec-tronic music in response to various

Easy work. Microcomputer kit is designed

for fast assembly by school-age builders.

simple input signals. But then, not every microcomputer user is in grade school. Yet that is the time to intro-duce the inhabitants of tomorrow's digital world to the computer, thinks the giant Japanese firm, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. The firm's Panakit KX-33, in-

tended primarily for ages 12 — 14, combines a computer of limited abil-ity — a controller really — with an electronic music machine of limited ability. The easy-to-assemble kit comes with firmware programming of its limited number of functions. It will cost about $ 155.

Simple learning kit. The kit is intended to give users an idea of the basic concepts of computer technol-ogy, including the execution of func-tions by combining user instructions with input signals. It also is intended to give its young operators some idea of microcomputer functioning, intro-ducing them to the world of the central processing unit, registers, memory, and so on.

Since it is basically a controller, the computer is built around the 4-bit MN1400 microprocessor from subsidiary Matsushita Electronics Corp. In addition to the arithmet-ic/logic unit, the chip includes 1,024 words by 8 bits of read-only memory for the system program and 64 words by 4 bits of random-access memory, which stores keyboard data. Also in the kit are two static RAM chips with 256 words of 4 bits each, which hold the tunes keyed in

for RAM storage by the user. The Panakit includes an 8-bit

latch, audio-amplifier and multivi-brator integrated circuits, and a speaker. There are keyboard switches and light-emitting diodes and associated drivers for the four-digit display. Once the kit is built, it can store

any song that does not exceed its three-octave range or its storage capacity. It can also perform control tasks over a 24-hour period. As well as music, it can produce a one-minute buzzer sound; both outputs may be triggered at a set time or by keyboard actuation or an input signal. Three transducers supply input signals: a cadmium-sulphide photocell, a transducer that responds to moisture, and a reed switch that closes when a magnet is near. Name that tune. The user writes in

a song note by note, using two hexadecimal digits from the key-board to give the pitch and another two to give the length of the note. Hitting the increment key then writes the note shown on the display into memory and advances the program counter to the next address. Notes and pauses from a full note to 1/256 note, including dotted notes, can be programmed. The memory can hold 127 notes —

generally enough for a popular tune. Alternatively, as many as four partial selections may be pro-grammed and addressed indepen-dently. Parents will be glad to know the music-loving child can instruct the Panakit to repeat the song a specified number of times. However, there is a knob for volume adjust-ment, as well as one for tempo. The kit is designed to give the user

a feeling of participation in its construction, but it is kept simple enough to stay within the limits of a first-time solderer. Thus much of it comes assembled, including line-cord wiring and wiring to the Ics. From unpacking to tightening the

last screw of the cabinet should take no more than three hours, the company says. Confident of Pana-kit's future, Matsushita is starting off at an initial production rate of 4,000 kits a month. D


We've Bridged the Gap

If GenRad's 1796 dynamic digital/analog board test system is too much machine for your application, and you need more performance than GenRad's 1795 digital tester normally provides, then you probably need GenRad's new 1799 Digital/Analog Test System. Our unmatched experience with board testing tells us that the 1799 is just the right system for many of today's applications.

A key feature of the 1799 is that it is an integrated system, which simply means it was designed as a hybrid tester. When you compare its performance with other hybrid testers on the market which are derived by adding analog capability ( via IEEE-bus based instruments) to a

digital system, you'll find a world of difference.

Interface for the unit under test ( UUT) is compatible with that of the 1795 and with the hybrid section of the 1796. Also, the fixed or program-mable digital driver/sensors operate through a universal scanner which allows either digital or analog source and measure capability at each I/O pin.

For the complete story on the 1799 Digital/Analog Test System, request a copy of our new brochure.

The difference in software is the difference in testers

GenRad 300 BAKER AVENUE. CONCORD MASSACHUSETTS 01742 • ATLANTA 404 394-5340 • BOSTON 617 646.0550

CHICAGO 312 884.6900 • DALLAS 214 234 3357 • DAYTON 513 294•1500 • LOS ANGELES 714 540.9830. NEW YORK 16,1212 964 2722

161.11201 791 8990 • SAN FRANCISCO 406 965.66152 • WASHINGTON DC 301 948 7071 • TORONTO 416 252 3395. ZURICH 101155 24 20

Circle 65 on reader service card 65

is no longer flat AMI creates VMOS. This revolutionary idea revolves around a three-dimensional transistor, etched into the silicon substrate.

The result? A circuit that's extremely fast, dense and inexpensive.

It isn't blue-sky theory. The first VMOS RAM, the 1K S4015-3, is in volume production now. And a reputable second source has committed to manufacture VMOS RAMs in 1978.

Our 35 nanosecond (typical, 45 nanosecond maximum) 1K static memory is pin compatible with the fast 1K NMOS and bipolar RAMs, and leads the way for the large family of VMOS products arriving soon. These will include:

NEW VMOS PRODUCTS AND TYPICAL ACCESS TIMES

4K fully static RAM 4K fully static RAM

4K fully static low power RAM

8K fully static RAM

16K ROM

64K ROM

16K EPROM

(1K x 4)

(4K x 1)

(4K x 1)

(1K x 8)

(2K x 8)

(8K x 8)

(2K x 8)

80 os

80 os

45 os

125 os

100 ns

250 os

200 os

The density permitted by vertical short-channel FETs produces VMOS circuits that are much smaller than competitive chips, increasing the speed and lowering the cost. For example, the latest bipolar 1K size is 61°o larger, and the new fast NMOS 1K is 87°c larger than AMI 's S4015-3. And VMOS densities are achieved

without stretching feature dimensions at the sacrifice of yields, as is necessary with bipolar and NMOS technologies.

-vM0S- refers to o short channel NMOS structure fabricated in " V" shaped grooves whch penetrate the silicon surface and are combined with planar NMOS devices

Aluminum Planar NMOS Transistor

it=7-

VMOS Trcl Si I

In short, VMOS presents the best of all possible worlds. If you want to stay up to speed at a down-to-earth price, call your nearest AMI distributor or sales office. Or write to AMI Marketing, 3800 Homestead Road, Santa Clara CA 95051. You'll be entering the MOS world of the future.

V MOS: the new technology fromAin

AMERICAN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.


PMI's COMDAC companding D A converter. When you think about what it can do, nothing seems very far-fetched.

Not long ago, we ran a little contest in one of the electronics magazines. We asked engineers to come up with the most creative ideas they could think of to put PMI's unique COMDAC—the first and only companding D/A converter—to work. We got lots of responses with exciting ideas. But the interesting part is that no less than five engineers said they'd had terrific ideas— but they couldn't submit them because their corporate attorneys were starting patent searches.

That's the kind of brainstorming that COMDAC has generated since we first introduced it.

The reason is simple: nature is nonlinear. People, plants, animals, water, wind—we don't live in a straight-line world. We live in a world of curves, slopes, and human response systems ( ears, eyes, touch) that do not follow straight-line paths. In trying to reduce these things to digital data, or to imitate them, we've always fallen short.

Until COMDAC.

With the help of COMDAC you can linearize analog signals. COMDAC can supply the shades of grey, the sweeping curves, the "vive la différence!" of the natural world. COMDAC uses logarithmically companded digital tech-niques for DIA conversion; with just eight bits, it e provides the dynamic range 4.3

of a 12-bit DAC-72dB or tt• .4096:1. With that range, it (S) can produce a convincing facsimile of the human voice, for example. Your watch radio can awaken you gently, with soothing, motherly tones, or shake you out of bed with

44 a drill sergeant's scream_ \ whichever is called for \in your case.

Consider these applications— some of which are already a reality:

• Digitized audio— music, sound effects, voice ( uP controlled)

• XYZ positioning ( automated drill presses, for example)

• Motor controls • Echo/reverb devices (for

electronic guitars, electronic organs, synthesizers)

• Voltage-controlled oscillators and filters

• Servo motor controls

COMDAC TRANSFER CHARACTERISTICS

- VFS 0 111 1111

• Altimeters • Waveform generation ( with PROM)

• VU meters ( for better response) • Voice recognition ( imagine a typewriter you could dictate letters to!)

• Tone generators • Voice encryption

• Voice warning systems (they're already using them in aircraft)

• LOG sweep generators

• Data acquisition • Recording studios • Verbal response systems ( like, your car could give you the word when it's overheating)

Keep in mind that COMDAC is not just a concept. It's a working reality. In the last two years, we've delivered half a million and cut the price in half. And since the 8- bit COMDAC can do many things a

12-bit DAC can do, think of what you will save by using a low-cost 8-bit system to do the job of the expensive 12-bit approach.

With a little bit of thought, a creative engineer—that's you—can come up with some really dazzling ideas. The surface has just been scratched. If you'd like a copy of all our contest entries, circle the bingo number below. We'll send technical literature that will help you with your application. Want a sample COMDAC? Send us a request on your letterhead.

Precision Monolithics, Incorporated 1500 Space Park Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050 (408) 246-9222. TWX: 910-338-0528 Cable MONO

NI]


Intel delivers the 8085, designers just

011111 e 8355 Sink your teeth into Intel's new 8085. id 1 ‘; You'll find it's the only micro-computer that combines the performance, economic

%Series 827X advantages and total support it takes to be recognized as

the new industry standard. So it's no surprise that there are already four announced sources for the 8085. In fact, the deeper you go, the better the 8085 gets.

The 8085, even more than the 8080 it succeeds, is a total design solution, not just a component. It delivers higher performance, for capabilities far beyond the 8080's. It has a higher level of integration, so you can design your products with fewer components, making them more competitive and more profitable. And to help you get those products to market quicker we've given the 8085 the industry's broadest base of system and development support.

Yet the 8085 is fully compatible with the 8080. So your investment in existing designs is protected, and implementing new designs is simplified by the wealth of 8080 software and peripherals at your disposal.

It all adds up to a design solution you won't be able to resist. That's true for a broad range of applications. The 8085 can be designed in as an economical stand-alone three-chip system using the 8085 CPU, the 8155 256-byte RAM with I/O and timer, and the 8755 2K-byte EPROM with I/O or its interchangeable 8355 ROM with I/O.

You can expand this basic system for larger applications using additional RAM, ROM, EPROM and Intel's complete family of first and sec-ond generation peripheral controllers, including our four new programmable peripheral controller chips— the 8271* Floppy Disc Controller, 8273* Synchronous Data Link Controller, 8275 CRT Controller and 8279 Keyboard/Display Interface. All these components including 8755 EPROM operate from a single +5V supply. *Available 4th Quarter 1977

the new mi can't resist.

crocomputer

A multiplexed data/address bus permits integration of many auxiliary system functions—such as clock generation, system control and multiple interrupts — onto the 8085 chip while maintaining 8080 compatibility and the same 40-pin package. And forward-thinking engineers will realize that it is also a link to Intel's future generation microcomputer products.

No microcomputer can match the 8085 as a total design solution because no microcomputer can come close to the 8085's support base. Sup-port for the 8085 includes the Intellec® micro-computer development system with resident PL/M, the high level programming language that can cut months off your software development time. Intellec is the only development system with ICE-857 providing in-system emulation for faster system development and debugging. Then there's application assistance, training classes and seminars worldwide. And a comprehensive development software library at your disposal.

The quickest way to get a taste of the 8085's power and versatility is with the SDK-85 System Design Kit. It's available now for only $250. You can order SDK-85 and all MCS-85" components directly from your nearest Intel distributor: Almac/Stroum, Components Specialties, Cramer, Hamilton/Avnet, Harvey Electronics, Industrial Components, Pioneer, Sheridan, L.A. Varah, Wyle Liberty/Elmar or Zentronics.

Or, for more information on the 8085 and SDK-85, use the reader service card or write: Intel Corporation, 3065 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, California 95051. Telephone: (408) 246-7501.

MCS-85" Microcomputer System 0 ,Components Family

ihesc;e;Ter-lecvoenitirnotl,esrryusptr cmonctlore g8e0n8e5rCatPoUr , sweirt

8155/8156 RAM, I/O & Timer. 256-byte static RAM, 22 I/0 lines, 14-bit programmable interval timer/event counter.

8355 ROM & I/O. 2048-byte masked ROM. 161'0 lines. Interchangeable with 8755.

8755 Erasable PROM & I/O. 2048-byte UV erasable and electrically reprogrammable EPROM. Interchangeable with 8355.

Compatible MCS-80"/MCS-85" Peripheral Components

General Purpose 8251 Programmable Communications Interface 8253 Programmable Interval Timer

8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface 8257 Programmable DMA Controller 8259 Programmable Interrupt Controller 8205 High Speed 1 out of 8 Binary Decoder

8212 8-bit Input/Output Port (Latch Buffer) 8216/8226 4-bit Parallel Bidirectional Bus Driver -

Dedicated Function 8271 Programmable Floppy Disk Controller 8273 SDLC Protocol Controller 8275 Programmable CRT Controller

8279 Programmable Keyboard/Display Interface

Performance Matched Standard Memory

r—

F 2 it atic RAM

. - 2114 1024x4-bit. 450 nsec 18 pin .. 142 1024x4-bit, 450 nsec. 20 pin

8101A-4 256x4-bit. 450 nsec. separate I 0

8102A-4 1024x1-bit, 450 nsec. separate I 0 I8111A-4 256x4-bit. 450 nsec. common I 0 , ROM /EPROM 1 2716 2048x8-bit Erasable PROM. 450 nsec ; 2708 1024x8-bit Erasable PROM, 450 nsec

2316E 2048x8- bit Masked ROM, 450 nsec . 8308 1024x8-bit Masked ROM. 450 nsec

intel delivers. Circle 70 on reader service card

Quite frankly, we're going to be#1

in memory testing till the cows come home.

Four years of match-ing the memory indus-try breakthrough for break-through have made Teradyne the leader in memory testing.

We started back in 1973 with the J384, a dedicated memory test system. It tested RAMs and ROMs efficiently and economically. But things were changing fast.

1974 saw the advent of dy-namic devices like the 4k 2107. And we added the M385 mi-croprogrammable pattern

generator to keep pace. In 1975 our answer to in-

creasingly complex memory technology was a new system, the J387.

In 1976, when 16k and page-mode parts went into pro-duction, we responded with the H712 test deck.

Today, Teradyne has an installed base of well over 100 J380-series memory test sys-tems working for more than

20 companies. At probe, at final test, and at incom-

ing inspection. That's a larger dollar base than our two near-est competitors combined.

Four years of experience have made us the most capable source of memory test equip-ment in the world.

If you test semiconductor memories, call us today. You'll call us eventually. Because no matter where memory technol-ogy goes from here, Teradyne will be there.

leteetile Semiconductor Test Division Boston, Mass.— Chatsworth, Calif.


Probing the news Analysis of technology and business developments

Speed vs cost in nonimpact printers Electrographic machines turning out 20,000 lines a minute impress,

but slower— and less expensive— ink-jet types could capture market

by Raymond P. Capece, Computers Editor

Electrographic computer-output printers are winning oohs and aahs in the nonimpact printer business and are bidding to all but eliminate impact machines from consideration for high-speed, large-volume jobs. The likes of IBM Corp., Xerox Corp., Honeywell Corp., and Siemens AG are making laser-based printers that spew out 81/2-by- 11-inch sheets of computer output with copier-ma-chine quality.

But there is a catch. These 20,000- line- per- minute work-horses— more like printing stations, with their collating, punching, per-forating, and other printshop capa-bilities— are a costly $250,000 each, though in most cases they are leased by first-time users. They are now competing in a constricted market populated by Fortune 500 companies that go through more than a million sheets of paper each month and are

dle

willing to pay a premium for speed. As estimated by International Re-source Development Inc., a New Canaan, Conn., research firm, that market is expected to amount to $150 million for an installed base of about 1,400 machines by 1985. R. C. Bishop, marketing manager for Honeywell Information Systems Inc.'s PPS (page-printing system) group in Waltham, Mass., thinks that that estimate is too conserva-tive. He says that more than 100 pps machines have been installed, and "10% of our users previously had only a single-impact printer." Not only that, but, Bishop says,

"we think that there are more markets than just the large corpora-tions. Any company that has two, three, or more printers could use the PPS. What's hidden from most analyses is the amount of printing done off line."

But some informed observers therefore expect a different type of nonimpact printing to capture the lion's share of the market in the next decade or so: a less expensive ink-jet printer. They reason that, since the market for fast, high-volume ma-chines is limited, the relatively low speed of ink-jet machines is no prob-lem. Also, while the copier-machine techniques of the electrographic printers mean that only certain papers can be used, ink-jet types print on anything.

Plain paper. What makes that argument so powerful is the voice of Mead Corp., the Dayton, Ohio, paper maker that did $ 1.6 billion in sales last year. "We concluded from a study of all types of printers, including thermographie and elec-trographic, that the future of print-ing is in plain paper," says Les Jezuit, manager of printer equip-ment and services at Mead's Digital Systems division, which began devel-oping its own ink-jet printer 13 years ago. " But ink-jet machines go beyond nonimpact — they're noncon-tact, which means that as long as you've got an ink that will adhere to the material, you can print on anything, whether it's paper, metal, or Mylar." Mead's Dijit series of ink-jet printers is designed for paper printing only, and Jezuit adds that Mead got into the printer business "actually as a defensive move, to plan the future of our paper products."

Dataproducts Corp. of Woodland Hills, Calif., also likes plain paper

Little squirt. IBM's 6640 document printer

is only midsized ink-jet printer now on

market. It was introduced in June 1976.

73

Probing the news

Light touch. Xerox 9700, which uses a laser

scanner, can perform simultaneous print-

ing — in this case, two forms.

but feels that electrographic printers will work their way down to less costly levels. Dataproducts, a printer maker, places reliability before speed and likes 4,000 to 8,000 lines per minute as the best range for ease of paper handling.

Speed, too. But Mead is com-peting with press printing and is after high speed. It will soon intro-duce its model 2700, claimed to be the fastest printer in the world, racing along at 800 feet per minute. The speed is designated in feet because the 2700 is capable of generating characters several inches tall. In terms of standard printed lines, the count works out to about 80,000 lines per minute, to be compared with electrographic pro-cesses running at about 20,000 lines. The speed of Mead's machines is

attributable to a multiple-nozzle array of ink jets- 960 of them in a full line width of 8 in. Other ink-jet machines, like those made by A. B. Dick Co., Chicago, use a single nozzle. But both Mead and A. B.

Dick, which manufactures five- by-seven-dot matrix printers intended for product date-coding and address-ing of forms, make stand-alone machines for off-line printing— neither is addressing the computer-output market. And while speed is a strong selling point for printing forms and other jobs competitive with offset, it appears no longer to be the major issue in computer output. The reason: few computer users

can make full use of an output of 20,000 lines per minute because then they would have to handle tons of paper per month. Ken Bosomworth, president of International Resource Development, points out: "Taking advantage of the high-

speed capabilities of the machines isn't simple. You've got to be able to load and remove quickly several hundred pounds of paper, and we've observed, just as the business-forms printshops have, that many of the big jobs shouldn't be brought in to the house. Rather, they should be done outside, off line, from magnetic

Were showin off for Commonwealth Edison.

Chicagos Commonwealth Edison uses Ramtek color graphic displays for rapid display and status reporting of pipelines, valves, pumps, and other generating station data A clear, color-coded display is updated every 5.0 seconds, giving near-instantaneous visual scan- log-alarm functions, bar graphs, one- line piping diagrams, flow status. etc

Before the Ramtek systems were installed, statu

reporting was by hardwired mimic boards, black and white alphanumeric CRTs and typers

The Ramtek system not only costs less. it also allows more information to be presented to the operator in a form that is quickly and easily under-

stood This results in better operator efficiency, and faster alarm reaction time In Commonwealth Edison. 16,000 Megawatt system, thirty Ramtek color graphics displays will be utilized

tape. There the volumes of paper could be handled better."

Honeywell's Bishop agrees that off-line printing is most practical because it does not monopolize the central processor. The PPS runs off line, and the complete system includes a tape drive. IBM'S 3800, on the other hand, originally ran only on line. IBM, however, began offering off-line printing as an option— to free the computer. Bosomworth also notes that dis-

tributed networks are driving data processing away from the central-ized, high-volume output production. In many applications, putting a slow printer at a remote terminal is more practical than distributing the litera-ture from a central location.

But a market definitely exists for printers in the range of 1,000 to 20,000 lines/min. Though it could be served by forthcoming electrograp-hic printers, a more likely candidate is the ink-jet printer. Products in this area are undergoing research and development not only in the labora-

tories of such companies as Datapro-ducts, but at Computer Peripherals Inc., a Rochester, Mich., company jointly owned by Control Data Corp., NCR Corp., and ICL of Britain. Computer Peripherals manufactures printers and memory subsystems solely for its parent corporations and refuses to discuss the status of its development.

Available. The only midsize ink-jet machine on the market at present is ism's 6640, originally introduced as the 46/40 document printer in June 1976, but by now widely accepted as part of IBM'S Office System 6. Renting for $600 to $900 per month, the machines print on single sheets of paper and can handle envelopes as well. Operation of the printer over communications lines is an optional extra. "The 6640 really started people

seriously thinking about ink-jets again," comments Jerry Ligon, pro-ject engineer at Magnetic Periph-erals Inc., the company jointly owned by Control Data Corp. and

Honeywell Corp., in which CDC has controlling interest. It builds Honey-well's page-printing system, which differs from the Xerox, IBM, and Siemens printers in requiring dielec-trically coated paper that is slightly more costly than plain paper. But Bishop maintains that the lower cost of his PPS hardware covers that extra expense for installations handling less than 2 million sheets of paper every month.

IBM has had the 6640 on the market for about a year now, but has been involved heavily in ink-jet research. In the last few years, it has been granted several patents, includ-ing one for charging the ink droplets as they leave an array of holes in a silicon wafer—a significant develop-ment for multiple-nozzle printing. The 6640 produces beautiful charac-ters in several fonts, but runs at the comparatively slow speed of 92 char-acters per second. The printer has a single nozzle to draw its sharp char-acters with 117,000 droplets of ink per second.

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Commonwealth Edison monitors on-off, full-empty, flow status, and other parameters on a Ramtek FS-2400 Color is assigned for steam, water, no-flow, and oil flow to differentiate visually between materials and status On the RM-9000, resolutions from 240 lines x 320 elements to 512 lines x 640 elements are available

Commonwealth Edison is but one of a growing number of customers who are finding that Ramteks raster scan modular graphics and imagery systems are giving them the expandability. flexibility, and increased productivity they need Besides the basic alphanumeric and imaging capability, Ramtek offers a wide variety of other functions including graphics— vectors, conics, plots, bar charts—pseudocolor, and grey-scale translation

Ask about our new Ramtek RM-9000 family that is totally controlled by a standard 8080 micro-processor that really makes it easy to develop and download your own control software

To find out more about how Ramtek can show off for you, call or write Ramtek Corporation, 585 North Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale, California 94086 (408) 735-8400

framtek Our Experience Shows


Probing the news

Electronics abroad

Hungary's strength is communications Next to smallest country in Comecon manages to occupy spot

near the top in terms of production volume and product range

by John Gosch, Frankfurt bureau manager

The contributions of Hungarians to science and technology range from the achievements of Budapest-born atomic scientists Edward Teller and Leo Szilard to the invention of ho-lography by Dennis Gabor.

But in no branch of technology is Hungary stronger today than she is in communications. Although the second smallest of East Europe's Comecon countries in terms of popu-lation ( 10.6 million), Hungary rates as the Bloc's second biggest in communications, after the Soviet Union, industry officials say.

Last year, output of commercial and consumer communications equipment combined came to rough-ly $ 1.25 billion, says Endre Nagy, commercial manager of the Hungar-ian telecommunications industries association. Add to that roughly one third for instruments, industrial, and medical electronic systems, and some other products, and Hungary's overall electronics output in 1976 totals nearly $2 billion. Commercial figures. Of the $ 1.25

billion figure, commercial communi-cations equipment— from simple ru-ral telephone exchanges to sophisti-cated microwave links— accounted for roughly 45%, Nagy says. But, at the expense of consumer communi-cations products— which include ra-dio and television sets, components, and much data-processing equip-ment— that share will increase sub-stantially during the next decade and a half— to 50% by 1980 and to 60% by 1990.

Exports in commercial communi-cation equipment will claim 56% of

This article is the seventh in a series that examines the electronics industries of the Eastern European Bloc, or Comecon.

On the line. Hungarian women at the Videoton factory in the ancient town of Székesfehérvár

work on printed-circuit boards intended for the firm's line of data-processing equipment.

production this year, Nagy esti-mates. For some product categories, like microwave systems, studio gear, and telephone exchanges, "exports may well account for between 70% and 90% of production," he says. As expected, Hungary's prime custom-ers are its partners in Comecon, which takes some four fifths of its equipment exports.

But markets in the West and in developing countries will command more attention in the future. Tele-communications exports to hard-currency countries will more than double during Hungary's current five-year economic plan to as much as $200 million by 1980. The backbone of commercial com-

munications work is clearly tele-phone switching systems. These in-clude crossbar rural and private automatic branch exchanges of Hun-garian design and public automatic exchanges made under license from Sweden's L M Ericsson. Built main-ly at the BFIG Budapest Telecommu-nication Works and sold through the Budavox Telecommunication For-

eign Trading Co., such equipment generates by far the most export business for the industry.

In the realm of computers, Hun-gary's main activities are meshed with those of other East European countries through Comecon's ES project. This project aims at a unified and mutually compatible line of central processors and peripher-als, with each participating country contributing its share of hardware and engineering. Hungary builds small computers, remote data-processing systems, intelligent termi-nals, punch- and magnetic-tape units, printers, disk stores, and modems.

Entrusted with data-processing equipment production are about half a dozen firms, with the 20,000-person Videoton combine the big-gest. Besides consumer products like TV sets, loudspeakers, and radios, which account for less than half of Videoton's output, the Budapest company builds the ES- 1010 com-puter, the smallest in the ES series. Also produced are display stations,


terminal systems, and printers, some under license from Dataproducts Corp. in Woodland Hills, Calif. The ES- 1010, of which several

hundred are said to be operating in the Comecon area, is intended primarily for commercial and scien-tific-technical applications. Using medium-scale integrated circuits, the system performs some 300,000 operations per second. Its main store, expandable to 65 kilobytes, is based on ferrite-core technology and the microprogram store on read-only-memory devices. Access and cycle times are reported at 0.9 and 1.1 microseconds, respectively. A channel adapter serves to interface the 1010 with other ES computers and peripherals. "Not all of our systems are related

to the ES project," says Tamás Hans, head of technical coordina-tion at Videoton Corp., which han-dles the company's foreign trade activities. As an example, Hans cites the 1005, a small system in produc-tion for about two years and destined for exports, "we hope also to the West." There are two 1005 models in Videoton's equipment lineup: the two-cassette 1005-50 office comput-er with a matrix printer and a data display, and the 1005-70 intelligent terminal, also with a printer. TV sets, too. For all the attention it

has given commercial electronic's endeavors, the industry has not let the consumer sector slide. Statistics show 233 color or black-and-white Tv receivers per 1,000 population for 1976, with total TV set production at about 300,000 units per year.

Color set production, although small, is picking up fast. From this year's level of 30,000 units, it will jump next year to 50,000, says Edith Nezvál, an economist at Videoton Corp. Her prediction for 1979 is for between 60,000 and 65,000 units. True to form, the Hungarians are

doing well in sales abroad, particu-larly with black-and-white portable sets in Western countries. "Prime foreign markets," says Gyórgy Berkes, deputy general manager of Videoton Corp., "are West Germa-ny, Britain, Switzerland, the Nether-lands, the Scandinavian countries, and Egypt." TV exports to the West, Berkes points out, are three times those to East European countries. E

le

UP

The spectrum analyzer on a chip.

Where else but from Reticon. What was previously thought impossible will now be an everyday occurence. Moving up to the next stage of complexity in CCD devices has resulted in the Reticon R5601, a 512 point Discrete Fourier Transformer. This technology offers a spectrum analyzer with small size, light weight, low power, high reliability, and a remarkable low cost. Along with its associated circuitry, it performs the Chirp Z algorithm to give a 256 spectral line display in less than 250 psec. It's small enough to fit into your system, yet powerful enough to have a signal-to-noise ratio in excess of 70db. The numerous applications possible include speech recognition, target identification, vibration analysis, bandwidth compression, communications, and general signal analysis.

Currently available is a self-contained evaluation module on two printed circuit cards just 80 square inches. Just hook up your ±20 volts, display and you're on the air. Use the on-board oscillator or externally control the sampling rate.

The R5601 is the latest in our growing family of discrete time analog signal processing devices. All available through our worldwide network of over 20 distributors and more than 70 salesmen.

Discover the IC that does it all.

RETICON AN AEI3sal COMPANY

910 Benicia Ave • Sunnyvale, California 94086 (408) 738-4266


Probing the news

Companies

TRW logic devices spawn a division New LSI operation hits jackpot with its first product,

a 160-ns bipolar multiplier developed to 'prove the technology'

by Larry Waller, Los Angeles bureau manager

After years of searching, TRW Elec-tronics finally has something going in the glamour end of semicon-ductors. Named the LSI Products division, it features what are ac-knowledged as the fastest commer-cially available logic devices. Equal-ly pleasing, however, to TRW cor-porate brass and officials at TRW Electronics is where it started. Organized in 1976 from scratch at

the Defense and Space Systems Group, the operation struck instant paydirt with its first product. But swift market acceptance of that device — a 16-by- 1 6-bit, 160-nanose-cond bipolar multiplier, holding 18,000 components on a chip and performing more than 6 million operations per second— spurred growth too rapid for the space- and military-oriented group to handle. "Our initial motive was just to

prove the technology, not immediate profit," recalls Ralph W. Miller, general manager of the new LSI

Products division. Ironically, Taw had had the

perfected bipolar circuit (called tri-ple diffusion, or 3D) since about 1968 and had been turning out small quantities of it for space and defense jobs. " It was the classic problem of LSI," Miller explains, "more func-tions on the device than the user needs." So TRW planners picked out an application area demanding more raw speed, lower power, and more miniaturization than offered by any other device: digital signal process-ing, or the real-time filtering of digi-tized waveforms.

Despite its success, this device is already being improved, since it "represents 1973 technology." Two new versions are due early next year.

78

One will have a speed of 100 ns, and the other will have an accumulator function added to the same chip, enabling it to do 10 million oper-ations per second.

Because managing an advanced bipolar organization is different from running other TRW components operations (their products include rectifiers, connectors, and circuit boards), officials devised a unique relationship. Miller serves as the chief link with the parent systems group, which still handles all the wafer fabrication, expanded device assembly, testing, and research and development. Fabrication, in fact, is likely to stay at the Redondo Beach, Calif., facility, because an auto-mated manufacturing operation can turn out as many as 250,000 0.8-inch-square chips a year, adequate for a long while. But a separate assembly-test building is planned. Smoothing the transition to the

new division is a familiar name in the industry, Theodore H. Maiman, inventor of the laser and also TRW'S Electronics Group vice president

New baby. The first device from TRW's new

LSI Products division is this multiplier. Chip,

280 mil', holds 18,000 devices.

charged with bringing in new tech-nologies. LSI Products reports through Maiman to George Hart, general manager of TRW Electronic Components divisions. The point, says Hart, is that "we're not mixing it in with everyday business. It's separate and reporting to me as far out as I can see. In five to six years, it can develop into one of our largest divisions."

Other products coming. Miller insists his division "is not just a multiplier company," but also offers a line of 8-bit data converters and shift registers, including a 256-bit, 40-megahertz unit. Furthermore, the division is likely to bring out more arithmetic elements, such as adders and subtracters. "Really, these are building blocks of general use." Maiman concurs, adding that the line should be regarded as "not components, but subsystems."

There are other possibilities be-sides signal processing, the market for which Miller admits is hard to pin down specifically because "it needs so much speed and complexity that it is relatively untapped." For instance, there are the allied jobs of digital switching and processing video digital signals. But Hart, Maiman, and Miller agree on one place TRW will not be: in micropro-cessors or mass memory.

By moving the operation out of a military environment, TRW is easing the way to profitable long-range commercial development. But a pit-fall could be the inevitable competi-tion. Among others, Advanced Mi-cro Devices Inc. and Monolithic Memories Inc. are known to be eyeing TRW'S market preserve and polishing suitable products. D


Somer or later it was bound to get out.

Yes, the Dumb Terminal.'" really does lave two smarter brothers.

At first, they weren't quite as well known, because their Dumb Brother's smashing success was stealing the show. Although they had been selling quite well along, even without getting constant headlines, like their Brother

Now, however, Dumb Brother has pulled them into the limelight. And ADM-1 and -2 have decided, after all, that perhaps it's time you knew a little more about how smart they really are.

ADM-2 is the more intelligent of the two, providing you with flexibility of format, security editing, interface, and transmission. You'll find, among a variety of other outstanding features, up to 8 screen status indicators and a numeric key pad. And a detachable keyboard with 16 function keys. Which give you the ability to access your special program, or form, or instruction.

The ADM-2 is also available in a model com-patible with your Burroughs TD-800 Series. The ADM-2B. The ADM-2B adheres to the standard Burroughs poll and address line discipline.

On top of all that, we've made the ADM-2 micro-programmable. And taken all the mystery out of the procedure. Which makes user-micro-programmable simple, quick, and cost-effective. The ADM- 2's versatility is limited only by your imagination.

You could call the other Smarter Brother, ADM-1, the "with-or-without" terminal. Starting with some pretty smart standard features, like a stan-dard 24-line display a field protection feature with dual-intensity and switch- selectable operating modes — block mode and conversation mode — you build up from there. With options like a hardcopy printer hterfam, and display editing capabilities (line insert, line delete, line erase, character insert, and character delete). Just add the options you need, and leave the rest of the "bells and whistles" for someone else. That way it's more systems adaptable. And it's up to you just how smart you want it to be.

The Smarter Brothers have it all. Intelligence, appropriate functions, and sensible cost-per-performance.

So, you might as well get used to seeing more of the ADM-1 and -2 in the future. Because we suspect they're going to be in the spotlight from now on.

After all, there's really nothing wrong with exposing your Smarts.

15i) The dumb terminal's smarter brothers,

Lear Steger. Inc., E.I.DIDala Products, 714 N. Brookhuret St., Anaheim. GA 92803:

(850) 854.0005. In California ( 714) 774.1010. Circle 79 on reader service card

"Siliconix VMOS are down. Bipolars'

.e« "VMOS power FETs, introduced by Siliconix in 1975, have always been better than bipolars—more rugged, more reliable, faster and simpler. Today, we're lowering our prices as we move further along the learning curve, and our economical plastic package brings superior VMOS technology within reach of all 't> - • ;iv

designers. At 96e apiece,* the new TO-202s will replace bipolars in a broad range of power applications, particularly in interfacing with computers and in telecommunications."

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VN66AF 60 3.0V $1.39 $1.16 $1.00

VN88AF 80 4.0V $1.54 $1.29 $1.10

All three devices are guaranteed over the temperature range of —55°C to 150°C; their maximum power dissipation is 12.5 watts, and their current rating is 2.0 amperes.

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"Until 1975, MOS field-effect transistors ( FETs) were restricted to small-signal, low-power applications. To control high currents, designers used bipolar devices. Then Siliconix, using Vertical MOS technology, introduced the VMOS power FET— combining the reliability of FETs with the power of bipolars.

"Today, Siliconix' new plastic TO-202 package means that VMOS power FETs are not only superior to bipolars in performance, but also competitive with them in price. They'll simplify designs and reduce component count in most systems because they eliminate pre-amplifiers, driver transistors, and external protective circuitry required for bipolars. And they can be inserted by machine, a time- and cost-saving advantage in high volume production.

"Anyone who has designed with bipolars knows the failures that can result from thermal runaway, secondary breakdown and current hogging. You don't have to worry about these problems with VMOS power FETs; their positive temperature coefficient eliminates hot-spotting and provides uniform current density, making them fail-safe. Consider how this inherent reliability will reduce your system interruptions and maintenance costs. And VMOS power FETs are faster than bipolars in switching operations— as much as 100 times faster. With all these advantages packed into the low-cost TO-202, you'll be able to eliminate bipolars' problems completely from many system designs.

"The high input impedance of VMOS and its threshold voltage range allow it to interface directly with CMOS, MOS and TTL logic families. And the VMOS power FET is the only interface device with a switching time comparable to that of ECL, so it will interface with a simple

Other VMOS power FETs introduced by Siliconix are also available:

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level shift— without losing speed. These features make the TO-202s ideal for data processing applications: computer peripherals, micro- and minicomputer systems, and process control equipment. They're also ideal for use in telecommunications: as telephone relay replacements, Touch-Tone muting switches, audio amplifiers, central office systems and analog switches.

"Our new line of VMOS power FETs in plastic may mean the end of the line for bipolars. We want you to discover for yourself how they can improve system design, so use the coupon to send for our detailed brochure. To order parts, contact any of our franchised distributors: Alliance, Century, Components Plus, Future, Hamilton/ Avnet, Industrial Components Inc., Pioneer Standard, Pioneer Washington, Quality Components, Semiconductor Specialists, Wilshire, Wyle/Elmar, Wyle/Liberty, or RAE."

Yes, I want to find out for myself how Siliconix put bipolars on the list of endangered species.

Please send me your brochure.

Name/title Company Address City/State/Zip

Siliconix Incorporated, 2201 Laurelwood Road, Santa Clara, CA 95054,

L (408) 246-8000.

BiliCOniX

LOGIC-ANALYZER ORIGINATORS

CHARLES H. HOUSE B. J. MOORE


CITED FOR TESTING INNOVATION 1977

Award , for

Achievement One problem, two men, two solu-tions: yet both designers were right; both of their designs were needed. So Charles H. House of Hewlett-Packard Co.'s Colorado Springs (Colo.) division, and B. J. Moore of Biomation Corp. in Cupertino, Calif., developed two markedly dif-ferent diagnostic instruments that were the first such electronic tools for studying, designing, and trouble-shooting complex digital logic cir-cuits and systems.

It was September 1973, at the annual Wescon show in San Fran-cisco, when the electronics world got its first glimpse of what House and Moore had accomplished. HP

brought its 1601L, a logic-state analyzer that displayed binary nota-tion in Is and Os. It was intended primarily for examining software program steps or conditions on a data bus. Biomation introduced its 810-D, a logic-timing analyzer for recording, displaying, and analyzing complex timing relationships.

Together, these two 10-megahertz analyzers were major innovations in instrumentation. They gave rise to a whole new class of instruments operat-ing in what is called the data domain, where designs more often are based on digital words or data as a function of time or sequence, than on voltage as a function of time or frequency. Logic analyzers serve the data domain in the same ways that os-cilloscopes have

served the time domain and spec-trum analyzers have served the frequency domain.

For House, the first inkling of the problems facing digital-systems de-signers surfaced in late 1969 when he was investigating the use of computer-systems architecture to define a digital-processing oscillo-scope program. "We were having significant difficulty debugging the DPO prototypes," he recalls.

House, circuit engineer Duncan Terry, and others working on the scope asked one another: how are other digital-systems designers, who are using serial-data interfaces and multiplexed data buses able to design and debug their gear? "It didn't take us long to discover others were having the same problems we were," he says. " It's a miracle that minicomputer makers could develop systems before such tools [as the logic analyzer] were available."

After checking with HP divisions making desk-top calculators and minicomputers, House continues, "we consequently said: 'The world

doesn't need a DPO that prints out rise time and pulse width to four decimal places. Rather, it needs some simple diagnostic tools.'" Thus, HP cancelled the digital-processing oscilloscope program in early 1970 and set up an investiga-tion of the need for digital test equipment.

Since data registration was the biggest problem House and his asso-ciates faced on prior projects, that became the first feature they set for a scope-like tool for digital-systems designers. Important in achieving this feature, House notes, was the pioneering work in parallel-pattern (AND-gate) triggering and digital delay done by HP applications engi-neer Ralph Reiser for the digital-processing oscilloscope. Soon added to the list were serial-

word recognition and linking trigger statements. Data-acquisition struc-ture was clearly a problem. Real-izing that many channels of data were needed without significant deg-radation, "we put considerable effort into miniature, multiple-channel

probing schemes where one adjust-ment controlled voltage threshold on all channels and tightly controlled timing skew be-tween channels," he says. By now it was

late 1970 and Hew-lett-Packard was developing the HP-35, its first hand-held calculator. Discussions that House had with en-gineers on the cal-

The 1977 Achievement Award

For major instrumentation innovations that meet a vital need in the growing field of digital-systems design, the editors of Electronics have designated Charles H. House, engineering manager for logic-analyzer programs at Hewlett-Packard Co.'s Colorado Springs division, and B. J. Moore, president of Biomation Corp., as co-recipients of the magazine's fourth Achievement Award. The 1977 winners were the key figures in the development of the first logic analyzers. HP's 1601L, a logic-state analyzer, and Biomation's 810-D, a logic-timing analyzer, gave rise to a new class of instruments operating in the data domain. The 1601L is a plug-in unit for HP's 180 series oscilloscopes, giving

a 12-channel, 16-word-memory logic-state analyzer for 10-megahertz operation. The 10-MHz 810-D digital logic recorder stores 256 logic states on each of eight channels, displaying waveform-like timing diagrams on an oscilloscope.


CHARLES H. HOUSE

Semiconductor development almost was the career choice of Chuck House, engineering manager for logic-analyzer programs at Hewlett-Packard Co.'s Colorado Springs division. But upon graduating in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in solid-state physics from the Califorria Institute of Technology, "I soon discovered that diffusion furnaces and Schroedinger's wave equations and I weren't compatible," he says in retrospect. "The semiconductor indus-

try just wasn't my calling." Happily for HP and for digital-

systems engineers, House quickly set-tled upon the instrumentation world as his calling. During his senior year, one of his instructors had argued that instru-ment manufacturers must design and build equipment that is ahead of the state of the art if they are to measure the state of the art. "That fascinated me," says House, who had immediately sensed a challenge.

Since then it has been a 15-year career with Hewlett-Packard — the first two years in Palo Alto, Calif., with the oscilloscope research and development group, and the rest in Colorado Springs, Colo., where the oscilloscope operation moved in 1964.

House, who says he was "damn lucky to get out of Cal Tech," has picked up a master's degree in elec-trical engineering from Stanford Univer-sity and a master's in the history of science and technology from the Uni-versity of Colorado. Now 37 and married, he is the father of three girls and a boy, "none of whom shows any signs of becoming an EE," he says. The House family lives near the plant

in a spacious California-Spanish home. He designed the house, adapting it to the Colorado climate. Because he could

not afford to build the home he wanted, he "chopped out the extraneous rooms." So there is no living room. But there is a 7-by-44-foot hallway, which helps him avoid walking into walls when he gets up in the middle of the night, keeps the lights off so as not to disturb anyone, and heads downstairs to grab a snack or do some writing.

Perhaps his nocturnal habits explain why House is known for his late morning arrivals at HP. But he is known for other things, too. He is coholder of two logic-analyzer patents relating to digital delay and pattern triggering and has two more logic-analyzer patents pending. He also was the circuit designer on Hewlett-Packard's model 1402 wide-band vertical amplifier plug-in and on several other scope products. House also takes pride in a plant

nursery— "one of the best two or three in the Rocky Mountain region" — that he owns and operates in his spare time. He tends to spread his bountiful curiosi-ty over a wide range of interests and is harassed by details. What's more, he concedes, "I've been known to be sharp-tongued and acerbic, impatient with others when they don't see what I do. But on balance, I prefer to think I'm pretty well liked by those that under-stand me."

culator effort led to the addition of two more criteria to the list of features for the proposed digital diagnostic instrument.

First, the data-entry method had to be compatible with the way digital designers describe their problems. This led to a definition of state time, state sequence, and algorithmic state flow as the primary measurement parameters of interest. It also led to the second additional feature: to present the data collected with this multichannel data-indexing scheme in a way meaningful to digital-systems engineers. To provide these features, "we

wrestled with many things," says House. Eventually he and project leader William Farnbach settled on writing parallel words left to right, with event flow going from top to bottom. Another feature the House-led

team sought to provide was an over-view of the system dynamics, and, again, several displays were consid-ered. Possible formats included memory-address space on the Y axis and event time on the X axis and,

"the one most liked early and even-tually settled on," a simple matrix of the most significant byte on the Y axis and least significant byte on the X axis. This feature was working by late 1971, House notes, but it did not appear until early 1975, in the 1600A 16-bit logic-state analyzer. Although the 1601L was the first

complete logic-state analyzer, some of its features were in at least two predecessor instruments. In early 1970, Digital Data Corp. of Allen-town, Pa., built and marketed the Diana, a two-channel-by-32-bit se-rial-data analyzer. House bought nonexclusive patent rights for HP.

Independent of the work of House's group, many concepts from Diana were being used in the model 5000A serial-data analyzer in development at HP'S Santa Clara (Calif.) division.

For Biomation, the development of 810-D logic-timing analyzer was less perplexing than the experiences of House's team. In fact, the cycle from idea to product was six weeks. The basic concept first came to Biomation engineers in 1971, after conversations with major makers of

mainframe computers. Late that year, explains Moore, Biomation began planning to develop an instru-ment with eight logic-channel inputs for high-speed ( 100-MHz) digital recording. When work on the record-er began in early 1973, the instru-ment had been redefined as an eight-channel 200-MHz recorder. It was introduced as the 8200 in 1975.

"In August 1973, I got an idea that my subconscious told me was a good one," recalls Moore. "I knew if a market existed for the 8200, there just had to be one for a product more modest in price and performance."

While inputs for the 8200's devel-opment came from computer mak-ers, "nobody ever came to us and said he needed a low-speed box. It was 98% intuition," Moore says. "The basic data world, at that time, was still operating at 1-MHz transfer rates, so I felt a 10-MHz logic analyzer did, in fact, have a role in the market." The very next day he began to

marshal all of Biomation's staff members to develop the 810-D and get it to market as quickly as possi-


Bill Moore would agree that it is a long way from pulling apart radios and being unable to put them back together to developing a ground-breaking piece of electronic instrumentation. But for the president of Biomation Corp., it was a natural way. He is not quite sure what his unsuc-

cessful teenage tinkering had to do with it. " All I know is that I liked math and science and just signed up to become an engineer when I went to college," says the 41-year-old native of Sharon, Tenn. With bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1959 and 1960, he plunged straight into instru-mentation design. The first decade of Moore's career

was spent almost entirely in his home state working for three small instrument companies. As a nuclear instrumenta-tion engineer at one firm, he developed a data-acquisition system for nuclear and chemical applications. At another company, he developed a line of digital instruments, such as counter/timers, and output drivers for data-acquisition systems. At the third, he was chief engi-neer on a very-high-speed multichannel pulse analyzer.

Despite these accomplishments, Moore says he came to feel he was

better at managing than at the detailed design of products. His belief is a major reason for his move to Biomation in 1969 as engineering vice president. "While I don't like details, I'm not bored by them," he remarks. "But, if I were a carpenter, I'd be a framing carpenter and not a finishing carpenter." How-ever, his development of the 810-D logic-timing analyzer took as much finishing as framing. He says the experience he gained

from working at small companies, wear-ing several hats and seeing the various roles of engineering and marketing people, helps him to be a good manager and understand and empa-thize with the problems those depart-ments face at Biomation. He also can quickly settle on the feasibility of a project. "Once I make a determina-tion," he says, "I feel comfortable and don't worry about it. Worry is largely nonproductive."

With his two teenage daughters and wife, Moore lives in a medium-sized house in Monte Sereno, about 35 miles south of San Francisco. " It's a very rural atmosphere," he says: chickens, quail, rabbits, cats, and dogs populate the two-acre plot. He spends most of his free time

taking care of his property and animals

B. J. MOORE

or working hard at becoming proficient at trap-shooting. Similarly, he sets high targets for himself in business, and he finds goal setting "very invigorating." He does not hesitate to come down on people whose performance fails to measure up to their promises— because, as he puts it, "the bottom line counts." However, "you don't have to be ruthless to be successful," adds Moore, who believes he and others "achieve what we decide we can."

ble. "I went to our engineering department and told them I wanted a 10-MHz logic analyzer. They said, 'Okay.' But when I said I wanted it by Wescon, just six weeks away, they told me it was impossible. I then asked if anyone wanted to do it, and when they all refused, I said, 'Okay, then I'll do it.' " The deadline made development

hectic. Moore, who joined Biomation in early 1969 as the firm's third employee and engineering vice presi-dent, had assumed the presidency in 1971. In August and early Septem-ber of 1973, he spent his days running the company and his even-ings developing the instrument. "I was the project engineer," he says. "I did the design, fabrication, and checkout of the prototype, and even wrote the technical portion of the instruction manual." By no means does he take sole

credit for developing the 810-D. " It was a case of team support rather than team leadership," he says. In those weeks before Wescon/73, "I had tremendous support from our engineering and manufacturing de-

partments. There was a lot of over-time for scores of people." The marketing of the instruments, he adds, "was superbly done, for a small company. [ Marketing man-ager] Dave Blecki and his people took a new concept and ran with it."

Although Biomation has since added binary notation of the logic state as a feature in some, of its newer logic analyzers, that approach was never considered for the 810-D, notes Moore. House says HP did not adopt the logic-timing-diagram method "primarily because we were concentrating on the bus-transaction information of algorithmic-state-ment changes, and not electrical param-eters of an asychronous system."

For Biomation, the 810- D's devel-opment "made the company what it is today," Moore says. " It made a step function in our growth and allowed us to participate in the whole logic-analyzer field." Perhaps more important, "it was extremely significant to industry, particularly in an economic fashion. It was a relatively inexpensive solution to a truly major class of problems."

Their manufacturers have re-placed the 810-D and the 1601L with newer products, and Moore thinks that the future of the logic analyzer is bright. "I believe it is the most significant instrument to come on the market since the oscillo-scope," he says. What's more, "I think we'll see a long and very exciting evolutionary process for logic analyzers as their capabilities and performance increase for a long time to come."

House concurs: "Digital electron-ics is going to be so pervasive in our society, in terms of controllers and computational capability in things that affect us all, that the measure-ment equipment to support their design, manufacture, and assurance of correct performance is destined to become an integral part of the digi-tal- electronics revolution. In 20 years, 1 suspect the data-domain analysis technique will be the cor-nerstone of the digital-electronics industry, just as frequency-domain analysis techniques have been the cornerstone of the communications industry from its inception." El


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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE I n any ordinary year, the seasoned observer of the electronics scene can count on significant advances in technology that will radically affect the

direction of product development. By that standard, 1977 must be consid-ered an extraordinary year.

In semiconductors, for example, the 4,096-bit and 16,384-bit memories have become established products; and memory technology stands on the frontier of the 65-k and 262-k realm. The advent of the one-chip microcomputer is accelerating the application and acceptance of computer power in a host of new areas of application. Nor is the end in sight— already semiconductor development is moving briskly toward still denser chips and still higher performance, under the impetus of newly emerging fine-line processes.

Along with the microprocessor revolution, a major new direction is being forged for instruments— logic analyzers and other specialized instruments in the data domain. In communications, large-scale integra-tion and optical fibers are beginning to have a discernible impact on systems. In computers, minis with extended capabilities are threatening the dominion of mainframes; in consumer electronics, technology nurtured both by the public's restless search for diversion and by the exigencies of fuel and pollution control has spurred the advent of programmable video and nonvideo games, video tape recorders, and intelligent (almost) television sets, along with computers in autos. In sum, the remarkable progress in 1977 indicates no sign of slackening.

Contents Semiconductors/ 92 Memories & Microcomputers/96 Computers/ 104 Components/ 112 Instruments/ 120 Communications/ 126 Packaging & Production/ 134 Consumer/ 140 Chronology/ 148

90 Electronics/October 27 1977

SEMICOND UCTORS Pushing performance. This microphoto-

graph shows a section of Intel's 50-ns 4,096-

bit static RAM built with a 4-µm MOS

process. This is the year when short-channel

MOS processes such as this one will reach

production in both memory and across the

LSI logic products spectrum. The result: new

levels of performance for next-generation

digital semiconductors.

NEW ZOS PROCESSES SET SPEED, DENSITY RECORDS by Laurence Altman, Solid State Editor

In semiconductors, a component and subsystem tech-nology is on the verge of becoming a high-performance systems technology. For if the last year or so saw the optimization of established products like 4,096-bit and 16,384-bit random-access memories and 8- and 16-bit microcomputers, the next 12 months will witness the birth of processes leading to very-large-scale integration: 65,536- and 262,144-bit read-only and random-access memories, fast 16- and 32-bit one-chip computers, and %Qs! peripheral chips performing entire process-control and telecommunications functions.

In short, 1978 will be a signal year in digital electron-ics. For the semiconductor manufacturer, it will be a time when advanced, high-risk, VLSI process technology, costing tens of millions of dollars to develop, must be put into production. For the system and equipment designer, it will be a time of radically innovative redesign around these VLSI components. Indeed, what happens in the next 12 months will determine how electronics components and equipment will be built, who will build them, and what new markets they will serve throughout the next decade.

Already key semiconductor manufacturers are jostling for a dominant position, as five high-performance VLSI processes emerge. As yet, it is too early to predict which

process will capture the major portion of next-generation digital designs, but it is already possible to foretell their relative effectiveness for different applications. The technique in widest development among Amer-

ican manufacturers for next-generation devices is a scaled-down, high-performance version of standard sili-con-gate mos processing— Intel Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., dubs its version H-MOS. What makes scaling an mos device so attractive is the

familiarity of the procedure. For 20 years the industry has known that a semiconductor device's performance and density increases geometrically as the dimensions of the circuit elements are shrunk. So the trick has been to reduce the channel length, gate-oxide thickness, junction depth, and so on of their circuit elements. ( For a complete discussion of device scaling, see the special report on the new Ls' processing, Electronics, Aug. 18, p. 91). At Intel, H-MOS devices have at most 4-micrometer channel lengths, 600-to-700-angstrom gate-oxide thick-nesses, and junction depths of less than 1 gm—all about one third to one half the size of these parameters in 1976 silicon-gate devices. The result is triple the performance of the old mos devices: a 1-picojoule speed-power prod-uct, as against 3 pi for 6-µm mos.

Intel has already applied this 4-tim H-MOS process to a


SEMICONDUCTORS 4,096-bit fully static RAM, the 2147, which is as fast as bipolar RAMS but consumes 500 milliwatts instead of at most twice that much. Moreover, the H-MOS process lends itself with no loss of speed to power-down designs, in which unselected RAMS can idle at a mere 50 mw, a particularly attractive feature for large static systems. The rapid success of Intel's 4-µm mos process has

caused the rest of the industry to evaluate and in some cases accelerate its scaling programs. Mostek Corp., Carrollton, Texas, for example, who from the beginning has scaled its n-channel, depletion-load mos process, is already using a 4- and 5-pm single- 5-volt process in new high-performance 4104 static RAMS and 3870 one-chip microcomputers. According to Robert Proebsting, mos device designer, Mostek's policy is to scale devices to the limit that is consistent with high reliability. "There's nothing magical about it," says Proebsting. "We have been doing it for years, and we will continue doing it where appropriate."

Similar n-mos programs are under way at Motorola Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, National Semicon-ductor, Signetics, and Fairchild Semiconductor. They are at various stages of applying scaled-mos processes to all sorts of Ls' products: microprocessor central processing units, Lst peripherals, read-only memories, erasable programmable ROMS, and dedicated chips, such as telecommunications coder-decoders, random control logic, and consumer circuits for games, television sets, citizens' band radios, and so on. Such an instantaneous, across-the-board exploitation

of a new technology is unusual, but in this case it happens because H-MOS and the other scaled processes are a direct extension of proven silicon-gate processing. Nevertheless, scaled devices are more expensive to build, needing smaller integrated-circuit patterns and stricter and more complex processing. Hence the question: does the revised process improve enough upon the density and performance of the standard silicon-gate process to be worth the added expense?

Yes, judging from Intel's instant success with the 2147. In volume, the part will cost about the same as or less than equivalent bipolar RAMS, yet it offers four times as many memory bits. Moreover, applied to microcom-puters, a scaled-mos process will result in a 16-bit CPU that is comparable in performance but lower in cost than minicomputer-type bipolar chips. For complex periph-eral functions, such as floppy-disk or cathode-ray-tube controllers, H-MOS processing for the first time supplies a truly high-performance Lsi approach— previous mos or transistor-transistor-logic versions often proved either too slow or too costly for many applications.

But is it reliable?

Cost and performance aside, the tougher question for H-MOS designers is reliability. If a semiconductor device is made small enough, normally negligible second-order effects begin to obtrude and cause nonideal behavior. Eventually, the device's operation suffers from such second-order problems as charge fringing, punch-

NEW MUS DEVICE TYPES COMING THIS YEAR

Type Process Performance

Access time ( ns)

Power (nW)

4,096-bit fully static random-access memory

silicon gate 125 500

H-MOS 80 300

V-MOS 80 300

4,096-bit fully static fast RAM

silicon gate —

H-MOS 50 500

V-MUS 45 450

65,536- bit read-only memory


H-MOS 250 500

V-MOS 200 300

16- bit microprocessor


H-MOS 250 500

V-MOS 150 500

LSI peripherals


H-MOS 300 500

V-MOS 300 500

16,384- bit erasable programmable ROM


H-MOS 300 500

V-MOS 300 500

through at low voltages, and threshold voltage shifts. Fortunately, at the 4-µm, 600-angstrom level of

today's H-MOS geometry, these second-order effects either are still too small to affect reliability or can be fixed with tight process control. The oxide must be kept very pure, and the gate-doping profiles and field-doping regions kept in line with ion implantation. After using these precautions, Intel engineers have found that their H-MOS 4-k RAMS survive accelerated life tests as success-fully as any other of their memory products.

The shoot-out

While H-MOS processes are taking hold at many semi-conductor manufacturers, an outside mos technique has emerged that promises to battle them for dominance in many applications. The process is v-mos, and its devel-oper is American Microsystems Inc., Santa Clara, Calif. A double diffusion in the channel region allows v-mos

transistors to operate as if they had an ultra-short, 1-µm channel while they are actually fabricated with relaxed 5- to-6-µm pattern rules. Thus they achieve high performance without the fine pattern geometry and process stringency of H-mos.

Moreover, the v-mos transistors are built on the slanting inner surface of a V groove, anisotropically etched into the silicon substrate to give access to the buried v-mos source. This use of a third spatial dimension makes for very compact VLSI circuitry, capable of packing about 20% more circuit elements than H-MOS onto a piece of silicon. To top things off, v-mos tran-sistors, if scaled down to 4-µm H-MOs rules, will be faster and consume less power. The speed-power product is 0.5 pi for v-mos, 1 pi for H-MOS.

Paper comparisons are useful, but the bottom line to


SEMICONDUCTORS all this process activity is product performance: speed, power, cost, and availability. The question by now is how quickly and at what cost the new devices— Intel's 4-k H-MOS RAMS and AMI'S samples of 1-k and 4-k v-mos RAMS — can be put into high-volume production. Both types clearly will be more expensive to manufacture than standard 6-µm silicon-gate devices. But as for which will manage to undercut the other, ic manufacturers and users will be able to make their own evaluations this year, as H-MOS and v-mos products take their place alongside conventional silicon-gate products (see table).

A Japanese entry

A third mos technique that may make an impact on Lsi design in 1978 comes from Japan. It is D-MOS, a planar double-diffused process that like v-mos produces seemingly short-channel devices. Manufacturers like Nippon Electric Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Co. have built 4-k D-MOS static RAMS and 8- and 16- bit D-MOS microprocessors for evaluation in dedicated programs. But these parts are not expected to be sold abroad this coming year.

For export purposes, Japanese manufacturers appear at the moment to be concentrating on short-channel mos processes, similar to H-MOS. Once developed, these would be used to copy Intel's 2147 plus any peripheral chips and other devices that become U. S. industry standards. As H-MOS and v-mos slug it out in center ring, two

PROFILE

more processes will attract the attention of users. They are integrated injection logic and silicon-on-sapphire. While both appear to be useful for dedicated applica-tions, fewer and fewer integrated-circuit specialists feel they represent mainline digital techniques capable of producing a wide range of device designs at most semi-conductor manufacturers. I2L has had dramatic success in dedicated Ls' designs,

such as game and watch chips, telecommunications control circuits, and mixed digital and analog circuits. But it is finding standard digital tsi designs harder to penetrate, except in very high-performance areas. Here, the line of i'L dynamic 4-k and 16-k RAMS made by Fairchild Semiconductor, Mountain View, Calif., are being used in systems requiring access times that are shorter than the 150 nanoseconds available from n-channel mos devices.

In the running

As for the silicon-on-sapphire process, Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif., has stayed on schedule with its complementary-mos-on-sapphire program and has introduced ROMS, RAMS, and a 16- bit CPU into its instrument and computer lines. RCA Corp. is still evalu-ating the sos technique for advanced product designs, while other commercial manufacturers continue to show only theoretical interest in developing the process for some applications, at least for the next few years.

The man who added another dimension to MOS

It was October 1975. One of the worst semiconductor slumps in the decade had cut deeply into the profits of American Microsystems Inc. To make matters worse, AMI had invested heavily in the digital-watch business, and it hadn't worked out.

That's why its top management listened carefully when an energetic 28-year-old Ph.D. student from Stanford University's nearby integrated-circuit laboratory told them about a new metal-oxide semiconductor process that, he said, would put the Santa Clara company in the forefront of MOS device technology. Clearly, it would be a gutsy gamble, because the process was based on a radically different device structure requiring circuit elements that were built on the face of a V groove cut into the MOS substrate. It could cost several million dollars and no telling how long to get the process running in production.

Luckily, the Stanford student was a super salesman as well as a shrewd technologist, and he persuaded AMI management to go along with the idea. They are not sorry. T. J. Rodgers produced his first V-MOS memory prototype just six months after joining AMI and his first production-ready 1,024-bit static RAMs only 18 months later— and he did it for less money than anyone had expected. The result: less than two years after Rodgers started

working at AMI, the company has launched a line of V-MOS memory products that leads the MOS industry in speed and density.

Rodgers is quick to give credit to AMI management, especially Donald Trotter, vice president of research and

94

development and his immediate boss in the early days. "Don gave us the support we needed for doing the job," says Rodgers. "He sheltered the project in times of peril, like the 4-k crash. No matter what was happening around us, we were able to do our own work. Of course, we could be pretty loose in those days since we were pushing one process for one product. All we needed was a few good people working long hours."

Things are different for Rodgers now. As newly appointed head of memory development, he has to get some six different memory products ready for production in a short time. "That takes a lot of product engineers, a lot of test people, a lot of hustling, and a lot of bucks," he says. "The game has changed."

One step closer...

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MEMORIES MICROCOMPUTERS TABLE 2: 197E- STATE OF•111-1E•ART

Access time (ns)

MEMORY

Active power dissipation

per chip ( mW)

—ECHNOLOGY

Device type Application

4-k to 16-k MOS dynamic RAMs

150 — 300 400 — 600 large mainframe and microcom-puter-based systems

, 4-k fully static 2114-type MOS statics

150 — 300 500 peripheral and microcomputer systems

4-k clocked 4104-type MOS statics

150 —200 120 (30 standby) peripheral and microcomputer systems

1-k to 4-k fast MOS statics

50 — 100 500 fast mainframe, cache, or micro-computer-based systems

4-k to 16-k 13 L dynamic RAMS

90 — 125 500 fast mainframe and microcom-puter systems

4-k to 16-k 12 L static RAMs

70 — 125 500 ( 20 standby) fast mainframe, peripheral, and microcomputer systems

1-k to 4-k TTL/ECL static RAMs

30 — 70 500 — 1 watt cache

32-k to 64-k MOS ROMs

200 — 500 500 fixed memory and program storage

1-k to 8-k TTL ROMs

50 — 100 700 fixed storage

8-k to 16-k EPROMs (UV-erasable)

500 500 prototype program storage

8-k EAROMs nitride types Famos types

1 ps 500

500 500

nonvolatile RAM; reprogrammable ROM

64-k CCD memory

1 ps 500 disk replacement; auxiliary serial memory

100-k to 1,000-k bubble memory

10 ps 500 nonvolatile disk replacement; microcomputer storage

Source: Electronics

16-kilobit level as manufacturers followed Intel, who invented the device, to higher densities using a more sophisticated 5-v floating-gate mos, or Famos, process. As for electrically erasable nitride and Famos PROM devices, they too will improve in density and become more attractive in such systems as reprogrammable point-of-sale terminals and Tv tuners— systems that require nonvolatile, periodic updating.

For CCD memory, 1978 will be a decisive year. The technology has finally reached the 65-k chip level—a density that makes the cost per bit low enough for system evaluation. Moreover, Fairchild, Texas Instru-ments, and Intel all will have 65-k devices that are fast

enough ( 500 ns to 1 millisecond) for many microcom-puter applications, where they could be used in place of floppy disks as auxiliary storage; in this case, a page of working data is transferred from the disk to the CCD for handy use during a routine and returned when the opera-tion is completed.

Finally, there are bubbles. TI'S 92,000-bit bubble chip, along with peripheral bubble drivers, detectors, and controllers, has finally given the systems designer an opportunity to evaluate this potentially attractive mass-storage technology in prototype systems. Being nonvola-tile and equal in cost with mini-floppy storage, bubble systems could be used immediately in floppy-based microcomputer systems as replacements for floppies. Bubbles are now about twice as fast as conventional floppies, but most important, they should decrease sharply in price over the next few years as higher levels of bubble-chip integration ( 1 million to 2 million bits) become available.

Those powerful one-chippers

The appearance last year of the powerful 8-bit one-chip microcomputer marked a flowering of semicon-ductor techniques in data-processing applications. Intel's 8048 family, Mostek's 3870, and TI'S 9940 are currently the most prominent of these chips, but all have enough processing power and real-time control capability to handle applications that formerly needed more expensive multichip microcomputers. This is especially true of configurations requiring a modest amount of memory but a lot of i/o control. For example, it is now possible to build a complex printer capable of handling many inputs with, say, a single 8048 microcomputer chip and one rnt. driver instead of 12 chips from the 8080 family. The 8-bit types differ in their details. Some are soft-

ware-compatible with multichip families; others stand alone. Some have uv-erasable program options; others are mask-programmable only; and so on. But they all have in common an 8- or 16-bit CPU and an accumulator stack, 1,024 to 2,048 words of Rom, 64 to 128 words of scratchpad RAM, and ample i/o capability of 24 to 32 lines that is sometimes expandable to 256 lines. Also, they all have fairly powerful instruction sets of up to 70 instructions, including some highly sophisticated routine-interruption capability.

Manufacturers are also working on the low-end 4-bit microcontrollers, as well as shoring up their multichip high-performance line. Rockwell, TI, National, and General Instrument have boosted their low-cost ($5 and under) 4-bit capability with higher-performing devices. Rockwell Microelectronics offers the largest line of 4-bit microcomputers, the PPS 4/1 family, and has just intro-duced its newest member, a p-channel mos chip, the MM76C, that incorporates a programmable counter-timer and analog-to-digital interface logic on the chip. National and TI will be offering n-channel versions of their p-mos COP and TMS 1000 series, respectively which increase throughput and instruction capability at no extra cost. National, for example, will be offering its


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MEMORIES MICROCOMPUTERS COP 410, 420, and 440 chips all with a 4-microsecond instruction-execution time. At the same time that manufacturers are boosting

their one-chippers, they are upgrading their multichip families. In response to Zilog Inc.'s Z-80, an enhanced 8080 multichip system, Intel developed its high-perform-ance 8085 three-chip set, which matches the Z-80 in memory capacity, instruction power, and throughput. Now, as other manufacturers move into the high end, they must decide whether to enhance the 8- bit family as Intel did, move straight into the 16- bit minicomputer as TI did with its TMS 9900, or do both. It appears that National and Motorola will enter 16- bit systems, while Intel and its followers will most likely do both. More important than cu enhancement, however, is

the increased peripheral-chip capability now being offered as part of all multichip families. These peripheral controllers— CRT, data- link, keyboard, floppy-disk, and memory— are more complex than the cpu themselves, containing a high level of processing and local control. For example, the Ls' versions of a CRT controller are programmable with system software to handle X, Y, scan, display, erase, and retrigger commands, all with on-chip controls. What is more, these versions do not use up any of the cpu's processing time. The next level of integration is microcomputer boards,

and here chip manufacturers have stepped up their activ-ity, offering families of system-compatible memory, arithmetic, analog, and control boards for use directly with their multichip lines. Intel and Zilog currently lead in the number and variety of digital boards available, while TI and Motorola continue to fill out their lines.

Minicomputer makers with microcomputer products are also very active in new board entries. Besides building up I/O and special-function hardware to fill out their lines of microcomputer boards, companies like Digital Equipment Corp. and Data General Corp. now offer upwardly compatible software that allows users to move from microcomputers right into minis.

Four types of board

In general. new board entries fall into four categories: processor boards, which may be CPU only or CPU,

memory, and I/O combinations; memory-extension boards that contain 64 kilobytes or more of ROM or RAM, or combinations of both, with I/O logic (some even have battery backup); special- function boards that perform fast floating-point arithmetic and calculator operations, a-d conversion, or timing functions; and uo boards that include serial and parallel interfacing, multiline digital inputs and outputs, opto-isolation, and a wide variety of analog I/O functions for both voltage and current signals. Of the four, the newest type is the analog uo boards,

which eliminate the tedious task of designing the inter-face between the microcomputer and the analog equip-ment it controls. They will be especially useful to digital designers who may not be conversant with analog design.

Analog boards are now readily available in a variety of configurations for direct connection to the microcom-puter. They are being supplied not only by several micro-computer houses, like Intel, Zilog, Motorola, and DEC, but also by a number of non-microcomputer suppliers, among them traditional converter manufacturers like Analog Devices Inc., Burr- Brown, and Datel Systems

It adds up. For the first time, charge-coupled devices are being used for logic operations. Using CCD configurations, this 8-by-8- bit full adder-

multiplier from TRW can perform additions and multiplications needed in complex signal-processing systems.

lin ffl ffl ffl

MEMORIES MICROCOMPUTERS Inc., as well as specialty suppliers like Adac Corp. and Data Translation Inc. A newcomer to the field is the very-low-cost board

that is taking aim at dedicated control applications. Intel announced an under-$ 100 single board based on its 8085 family, for example. Though the board has no bus-interfacing capability, it has ample RAM and ROM for stand-alone applications. TI has added an entire low-cost 16-bit line, the TMS990 series. Its TMS990/100M not only includes a debug monitor in its erasable PROM, but also has a breadboarding section with empty sockets.

Microcomputer designers are also being offered new system capability as evidenced by the appearance of applications software. Programs that manage the execu-tion of microcomputer tasks— the same as used in large computers— are more prevalent and saving designers a good deal of time. These real-time executives are either disk-based or in a relocatable software module that resides in a Rom. Intel's R MX/80, one of the latter kind, requires only 2 kilobytes of ROM.

Development systems

Microcomputer system designers are also enjoying a greater variety of more powerful development systems. Witness the growth of available systems over the last two years, when Intel introduced the first microcomputer development system for its 8080 family. Besides having development and in-circuit emulation capability for its

PROFILE

established 8080 and 3000 microcomputer families, Intel has introduced personality boards this year for the new high-performance 8085 and the one-chip MCS-48 microcomputer family.

Indeed, powerful development systems now exist for all the established microcomputer families, supplied both by the major manufacturers of these lines and by inde-pendent instrument manufacturers. Development systems of many types have emerged from chip makers, including Zilog, TI, Rockwell, Motorola, Signetics, and RCA. Zilog's latest system, its program development station, is distinguished as a low-cost alternative to large, multi-user systems— single-disk multiple stations can be added as needed to supply many users. More general in purpose is the new Rockwell mini-floppy-based develop-ment system, which offers optional personality modules for use with other manufacturers' processors. A new source for microcomputer design tools is the

instrument manufacturers, whose development systems aim at universality. Tektronix Inc.'s system, for example, supports the 8080, 6800, and Z-80 processors. Mupro Inc.'s system provides for the processors mentioned above and for 8085 development as well. Moreover, it accommodates up to eight designers at once, while other systems in its price range are suitable only for a single designer. Multi-user systems are far more serviceable, and most manufacturers will swing over to them in the near future.

Big achiever on a small scale

It's young engineers like Richard Pashley that make the U. S. semiconductor industry the most innovative in the world. Not yet 30, he has played a major role in devel-oping Intel Corp.'s new metal-oxide-semiconductor pro-cess, which he has also used in an innovative memory design. The process is H-MOS, for high-performance MOS, and the design is the 2147 50-nanosecond, 4,096-bit static random-access memory that promises to be copied by practically every semiconductor manufacturer.

Pashley's work at the Santa Clara, Calif., firm in speeding up and increasing the density of standard sili-con-gate MOS was what persuaded Intel brass to stay away from bipolar technology for memory design. "The early days of 1974 were particularly challenging for us," he recalls. "I was assigned the task of making MOS as fast as bipolar. At that time the company was looking at all memory processes, including I2L, and the more we compared them, the more we saw that everything they could do with the bipolar techniques we could do better with MOS techniques. We haven't deviated from that path since."

Fresh from obtaining his Ph.D. from Caltech in late 1973, Pashley was given his first job at Intel: to redesign the extremely successful 2120 1,024- bit static RAM for next-generation applications. " It involved both a process change and new circuit design," he says. "To speed things up, we added depletion loads to the process, but we had to do still better to be competitive with bipolar RAMs in cache memory design."

In 1975 Pashley hit on the technique of on-chip substrate back- biasing, which allows MOS transistors to be scaled down in size even further. That technique, coupled with some circuit tricks, produced the first 1-k MOS RAM with access in less than 100 ns and proved to the industry that MOS had a lot of life in it still.

By then Pashley had caught the eye of his superiors, who took him off the 1-k static RAM project and gave him the challenging assignment of developing Intel's next-generation MOS process, not just for memory but for microprocessors as well. As is common at Intel, Pashley's group moved in meth-

odically but at high speed. "We looked at D-MOS, V-MOS, and other exotic technologies, and the more we looked, the more we saw that scaling our old silicon-gate process was still the best way to get high performance, both for memory and logic applications." Once scaling down for high performance was decided

on in November 1975, Pashley's group really poured it on. It took them about five months to apply the H-MOS process to the old 70-ns, 1-k 2115, , resulting in a 50-ns 2125, and an-other six months to design the 4-k 2147.

102

It's a stand-alone sweep-signal generator that provides all the performance of much higher priced competitive instruments. To back up that sweeping statement, consider the following: The Model 2002 sweeps from 1 MHz to 2.5 GHz in four bands with 20 milliwatt output, -±-1% display linearity, and -±0.5 dB flatness. Consider also that it includes an internal 10 dB per step attenuator which in conjunction with a contin-uously variable pin diode attenuator

results in an output power range of +13 to —77 dBm. Plus a band-stackilg option that lets you cover the entire 1 to 2500 MHz frequency range in one sweep. A ±-2 dB amplitude slope adjustment that compensates for frequency dependent variations in test set-ups is also available along wi:h a deluxe marker module containing 1, 10, 50 and 100 MHz harmonic markers that operate over the entire frequency range of the unit. Finally, consider the price: $2,700 for the baso

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COMPUTERS

MEMORY-01U ENTED MAXIMIZE by Raymond P. Capece, Computers Editor

Deceptive desktops. Looking at first like

fancy terminals, this year's desktop comput-

ers pack almost as much power, memory,

and I/O as some minicomputers. Hewlett-

Packard Co.'s 9845 incorporates keyboard,

display, cartridge-tape drive, thermal printer

with a fast processor, and enhanced Basic

compiler. Lots of software packages target

turnkey systems for the scientific and finan-

cial communities.

DESIGNS THROUGHPUT

CI In a total about-face, this year the central processing units are racing to stay on top of their smart peripherals' demands. They are also racing to stay ahead of each other — 16-bit desktop computers pounding after 32-bit minicomputers that perform easily as well as some main-frame models.

Fueling the whole chase are the advances in large-scale integration that have ballooned memory capacity and produced powerful chip processors. With such hard-ware at hand, computer designers are at last free to concentrate on system throughput, which they are boosting by increasing instruction sizes, widening data channels, and reorienting architectures to exploit the abundance of cheap memory—whether as caches, lookup tables, or microcoded processor control stores. Nor are memory-subsystem designers idle. Floppy-

disk systems now have the capacities of earlier hard-disk designs, and optical-storage techniques loom, as magnet-ic memory pushes the limit in density.

Minicomputers in the limelight

This year, advances in system hardware and architec-ture boosted minicomputer throughput in particular. Some, for instance, turned into better number crunchers through incorporating special arithmetic processors. The

Eclipse C/300 from Data General Corp. of Southboro, Mass., and the 8/16E from lnterdata Inc. of Oceanport, N. J., are among those that acquired hardware that does single- and double-precision floating-point arithmetic about as fast as some mainframe computers.

Instruction sets, too, were refurbished, to get more out of the huge new main memories. Several million bytes of directly addressable memory— not the 65,536-bit limit imposed by a 16-bit word— is needed these days, and various memory-management schemes are bringing the 16-bit machines up to scratch, including special 32-bit instructions. The 21MX minicomputer series from Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif., acquired a dynamic mapping capability that lets it address 2 mega-bytes if need be. The memory management system of the 16/550 from General Automation Inc., Anaheim, Calif., can handle 2 megabytes, too, and also write-protects selected blocks of data. The model 500 from Prime Computer Inc., Wellesley Hills, Mass., can address 8 megabytes and also provides for virtual memory. As for speed of access to million-byte memories, just a

few kilobytes of bipolar cache can keep it to less than half a microsecond. The trend here is towards larger, less complicated caches as memory cheapens.

In minicomputers with large metal-oxide-semicon-


ductor memories of 65 kilobytes and up, error-detection and -correction coding is becoming either a standard or an optional feature. Although it means adding 5 or more error bits to each data word, the coding corrects single-bit errors and detects longer ones. Digital Equipment Corp. of Maynard, Mass., introduced its PDP- 11/60 this year with error-corrected mos memory as standard and also began offering error-corrected mos memory as an option on its PDP-11/70. Nor have the input/output capabilities of minicom-

puters been neglected. Newly available are high-speed data channels, formerly a mainframe feature, which gives the small machines byte-transfer rates of several megahertz. Direct memory access, sorely missed in IBm's Series/1, is giving other minicomputers the entrée to new areas of real-time processing and providing further opportunities for interfacing to mainframes.

Coming up from below

Such is their success that minicomputers are under attack from below — desktop units that today are much more than glorified calculators— as well as from above— mainframe firms eager to extend downwards. What with their simple interactive languages and pre-

packaged software options, the self-contained, turnkey desktop systems appeal more to scientists and busi-nessmen than to computer programmers— deliberately so. The emphasis of the PCS-II, a product of Wang Laboratories Inc., Tewksbury, Mass., is on business applications. It offers several accounting and billing software packages and for storage has an 89,600-byte minifloppy disk. HP'S 9845 is an extremely powerful desktop computer with 210-kilobyte microcartridge stor-age. It packs this plus a keyboard, thermal printer, and cathode-ray tube into a single case.

Small businessmen received attention from many manufacturers, who see them as a growing market for automated billing and inventory control gear. Software packages oriented towards management abounded, many of them in the business language of Cobol, for which more compilers are being provided. Typical of many small systems brought out this year was the LCC/60 ledger-card desktop computer from Monroe of Orange, N. J. Designed for general accounting, the LCC/60 is simple to operate and has the forms-handling capability needed in business applications.

Notable among the mainframe manufacturers who honored the minicomputer world with their own entries were IBM Corp. with its Series/1 and Sperry Univac with its BC/7. The Series/1, out of the General Systems division, is a 16-bit processor comparable in performance to a DEC PDP-11/34 or a Data General Nova 3/D, as shown in the table. While it is not IBM's first minicom-puter — the unsuccessful 1700, which used 6-bit words, was first shipped in 1962— the unbundled Series/1 is destined for a certain market share, despite its initially minimal software. The launch of Univac's first minicomputer, the small-

business BC/7, compounded by Univac's acquisition of

COMPUTERS MINICOMPUTERS IN IBM SERIES/1 MARKET

DATA FORMAT

Word length ( bits)

Manufacturer/ model

IBM Series/1

4953 4955

DEC POP 11 / 34

DG HP Nova 3D 21M X E

16 +2 parity 16 +2 parity 16 + 1 parity 16 + 1 parity

Fixed-point operand length (bits) 16

Instruction length (bits) 16

16 16

16,32,48 1 16

16, 32

16, 32

Floating point optional optional optional standard

FP operand length ( bits) ' 32/64 32/64 32/64 32/64

MAIN MEMORY

Storage type MOSFET CORE MOS CORE/MOS MOS

Cycle time (ps/wd) 0.8 0.66 0.98 0.725 0.7 0.65

Access time (µs/wd) 0.6 0.3 0.51 0.635 0.35 0.325

Minimum size (kilobytes) 16 16 4 4

Maximum size (kilobytes) 128 124 262 2,000

Parity checking standard standard optional standard

Error correction no no no : optional

Storage protection none standard standard optional optional

Storage mapping optional standard standard optional

CENTRAL PROCESSOR

Accumulators 6 4 2

Index registers — 6 2 2

Direct addressable kilowords 32 32 256 32

Addressing modes 4 8 6 7

Control storage (kilobits)

read-on y store

n.a. n.a. ROM,RAM 8.5 6 24

Add time (ps) 8.4 2.42 2.03 0.7 1.94

Hardware multiply/divide standard optional optional standard

Hardware byte manipulation standard standard optional standard

Battery backup optional optional optional n.a.

Real-time clock/timer optional standard optional optional

INPUT/OUTPUT

Direct memory access n.a. standard standard optional

Maximum I/O rate (million words/s) 0.8 2.5 1.1 0.616

External interrupt levels 4 variable 16 60

Source Lee ViWther & Co


COMPUTERS

IBM serum«. The IBM 3033 processor offers nearly twice the

computing power of the 168-3 it succeeds in the System/370 family,

yet it takes up half the floor space. Similar upgrades were offered for

the 148 and 158-3 processors with IBM's 3031 and 3032.

Varian Data Machines, announces that the company is in minicomputers to stay. The BC/7 uses bit-slice chips for main processing and several 8080 microprocessors for peripheral control throughout the computer.

Mainframes not idle

The big news in big computers was the announcement of tam's 3033 processor, which performs about twice as well as the 370/168-3. The computer giant followed that up with the 3031 and 3032, enhanced versions of its 148 and 158 processors, again with about twice their prede-cessors' computing power.

Also in the news was Amdahl Corp.'s 470V/5, subor-dinate to the company's popular 470V/6 that competes with Imes 370/158. The Sunnyvale, Calif., firm also delivered an enhanced 470V/6-II this year. Another firm taking a shot at ism was Control Data Corp. of Minne-apolis, which introduced its Omega 480 series of Ism-compatible computers featuring superior performance at lower cost than models in the 370/I35-to-/ I 48 families.

Besides new models, several upgraded versions of established machines appeared as product lines were widened. Burroughs Corp., Detroit, introduced no fewer than eight new models nested in its 800 series and also announced its BSP scientific processor for number-crunching. Not Corp. added several new computers to its 8000 series, including its 8100 family aimed at the small-business minicomputer market. Marking a thrust toward multiprocessing and networking, the Dayton, Ohio, firm is stressing interactive processing, for exam-ple, by adding interfacing capabilities to the V-8560 that simplify the hookup of several terminals.

Foreseeing the spread of distributed-processing systems, some manufacturers have set up guidelines to this application of their product lines. NCR, for example,

has established guidelines that cover link protocols, data-access methods, and intranetwork disciplines. Similarly, HP brought out its DS/3000 and DS/1000 packages of read-only-memory subsystems and software that provide communications throughout any network of HP 1000 and 3000 systems.

Actually, many of the networks termed distributed processing could more aptly be called multiple-task, multiple-user systems, as which they are far more flex-ible than single-user systems. For example, Honeywell Information Systems Inc.'s DST 6/5000, based on the Minneapolis company's Level 6 minicomputer, supports up to four terminals in a disk-operating system. It resem-bles NCR's 8200 family and Harris Corp.'s network of 1600 processor family members (to which three new models were added) in that it, too, organizes interactive network approaches and reduces processing bottlenecks by running several jobs simultaneously.

Terminal fever

Aiding and abetting the distributed processing revolu-tion is the evolution of intelligent terminals, some of which approach minicomputer performance. Large-scale integration has added such abilities as text scrolling, as well as the blinking, highlighting, and reverse-video of characters, selectable by the user, that can be found on terminals from Applied Digital Data Systems Inc., Ann Arbor Terminals Inc., and others. For a few dollars more, terminals like Perkin-Elmer Corp.'s Data Systems' 1200 get into editing and forms-generating capabilities.

Further up the line, highly intelligent terminals were brought out with several kilobytes of chip read-only memory for terminal programming and 16 kilobytes or more of user random-access memory. The VDP-400 from Lear Siegler Inc., Anaheim, Calif., uses a bit-slice processor chip set from Fairchild for 16-bit processing capability. Texas Instruments Inc.'s 770 terminal, with a microcartridge tape store and thermal printer, contains the TMS 9900 16-bit microprocessor. The use of graphics terminals has widened, and the

year was particularly significant for raster-scan graphics, which has brighter images and more flexible handling than storage and refresh approaches. Most raster-scan systems require lots of memory, since their picture elements are represented by bits of storage on a one-to-one basis, but cheaper semiconductor RAM assures the technology first place in graphics.

Hewlett-Packard premiered its 2648A raster-scan graphics terminal, which marked the first time a terminal used 16,384-bit RAMS, and it put them to good use in such features as panning, zooming, and rubber-band graphics creation. Ramtek Corp. of Sunnyvale, Calif., introduced its Micrographic terminal, a raster-scan graphics model with full-color display. Just as with HP'S, software for graphics can be had for the unit that automatically generates graphs and pie charts.

Printing terminals, though less popular than cathode-ray-tube types, were introduced by a few firms. Texas


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COMPUTERS

Memorable future. Reductions in cost and access time are coming to nearly all memories, as predicted by Control Data Corp. Solid-state

devices are constrained by price, while magnetic memories are slow; optical techniques may provide entries in the lower left of the graph.

Instruments' Silent 700 was the first terminal to use bubble memories— two of Ti's TBM0103 92-kilobit devices— for nonvolatile storage of up to 50 pages of data. The Dallas firm's terminal incorporates a thermal printer yet weighs a scant 13 pounds and is no bigger than a portable typewriter. HP announced its 2635A, which contains the company's first medium-speed printer. The printing terminal uses HP'S silicon-on-sapphire technology and prints 180 characters per second bidirectionally. Ti also offered a similar intelli-gent printer this year, its model 810.

Printer progress

This past year saw noteworthy contributions in all phases of printers, from the high-end computer-output types to the very lowest, hobby-type devices. The former was addressed by nonimpact printers with speeds of about 20,000 lines per minute. The machines that moved fastest in this category were electrophotographic units, which rival typewriters for quality of output and some-times can also generate graphics or logos. But there was less activity this year in ink-jet printers, either the 70,000-line-a-minute racehorses or the 90-character-per-second calligraphers. The electrophotographic printers that bowed include

Xerox Corp.'s 9700, which generates digitized forms and logos from a massive data base, Honeywell's page-printing system, which, like the IBM 3800, generates

forms and logos from negative plates, and the 3352 from Siemens AG. All use a laser-scanning arrangement. At the low end of the printer class, electrosensitive

printers bowed. The vague term refers to the black paper coated with a thin aluminum layer that is burned through by the discharge of current. sci Systems Inc. of Huntsville, Ala., introduced a printer of this sort early this year that zips along at 2,000 characters per second yet costs only $300 without interfacing electronics. Centronics Data Computer Corp. of Hudson, N. H., followed with a more conventional— though slower — version. Both produce satisfactory outputs, though dislike of the metallized paper has affected acceptance.

In the higher-end line-printing market, newer band types from Data 100, Dataproducts, Centronics, and others pushed speeds up to 900 lines per minute, with printing in several fonts. Moreover, the popularity of optical-character- reading wands and devices has spawned printers that generate OCR-readable characters, like the printer from Data 100.

Magnetic storage

At the low end of magnetic tapes, microcartridges received wider exposure as they appeared in Hp's desktop computers and in TI equipment. Quantex Corp. intro-duced a palm-sized drive to accommodate this kind of cartridge, which can store several hundred megabytes of data. The not-altogether-forgotten cassette found a


COMPUTERS home this year— as a substitute for paper tape in machine-tool control programs. Electronic Processors Inc., Englewood, Colo., has developed an encoding tech-nique that allows even an audio-quality cassette drive to be used for exacting numerically controlled machine-tool programming.

New disks

Among disk technologies, the flexible or floppy disk, which is now well established, saw the development of double-sided, double-density recording in the model 850 drives from Shugart Associates Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif. With an unformatted capacity of 1.6 megabytes, the floppy rivals the low end of hard disks. Double-sided recording was blessed by IBM when it introduced its two-headed version of the floppy, but IBM has yet to support double-density recording, or m2FM.

Fast-access-time floppies came from Pertec Computer Corp., Wangco Inc., and others. Also worth noting is the 51/4-inch flexible-disk or minifloppy drive introduced by Shugart Associates late last year. Originally intended for text-editing applications, it has found a substantial market in personal computing.

In small hard-disk drives, the demands of minicom-puter users spurred the doubling and tripling of storage capacities. Diablo Systems Inc., Electronic Memories and Magnetics Inc., and HP all introduced drives that combine fixed and removable media for an overall

PROFILE

storage of up to 75 megabytes. In all these devices, one disk could be removed; contained in a cartridge, it usually holds between 10 and 15 megabytes. Going against the tide, Japan's Fujitsu Ltd. introduced a 50-mbyte drive with a totally removable two-disk cartridge.

It is safe to say that the limits are being pressed in magnetic media, beyond which increased density becomes prohibitively expensive. The estimated ceiling of 1,000 tracks per inch is only a generation of devices away, and bit density limits of even 15,000 bits per inch are also not far off, being little more than double present high densities. By 1980, disk storage density will increase at most by a factor of 10, with most of the development going on in moving-head types of drives.

An optical future

Hence the appeal of optical storage technologies. Systems have been assembled that can provide archival storage of hundreds of billions of bits on small polyester sheets. In present techniques, which are by no means perfected, lasers burn microscopic holes in the film, and storage is therefore unalterable.

Clearly, optical techniques are the most likely to meet future storage needs, especially in the form of writeable optical disks. Factors such as noncontact reading and writing, high-speed (and multiple-track) scanning with inertialess beams, and tremendous bit densities presage the victory of optical over magnetic technologies.

Architect of the 11/60

"Keeper of the PDP architecture" — that is how Craig Mudge describes his first assignment at Digital Equipment Corp., Maynard, Mass., which he joined in 1973. The job was one for which his broad applications experience in Australia's computer industry had been an excellent preparation. Almost immediately he became involved in the design of

the PDP-11/70, but only peripherally. By far his greatest contribution was selling DEC on the idea of architectural consistency. "I had to convince them of the importance of compatibility throughout the PDP line and on down to the LSI-11," he recalls.

This laid the groundwork for the 11/60 minicomputer, which Mudge first proposed and then moved on to design with co-workers Jim O'Loughlin and Chuck Kaman. The midrange 11/60 fills an important gap in the PDP

family as the constant-price successor to the 11/40. Explains Mudge: "Every machine spawns two successors: one offers the same functionality at a lower price, while the other, like the 11/60, uses technology to give more performance at the same price." This is an important notion in minicomputer evolution, and it leads to two different types of design style. An extremely zealous designer who recently served as a

visiting faculty member at Carnegie-Mellon University ("to recharge my batteries"), Mudge is especially enthusiastic about using memories instead of logic in processors— what he terms "memory-intensive" design. "Since the cost reduction in memories is proceeding much faster than

in logic circuits," he maintains, "we're seeing memory-intensive design in all areas, from IBM 370s down." These cost-effective designs are in evidence throughout

the 11/60. Lookup tables in the fast floating-point proces-sor, read-only-memory instruction decoding, and the widespread use of caches all point to memory-oriented design. Microcode— internal instructions stored in read-only memory— is becoming more attractive in cost-conscious design, Mudge adds.

In the 11/60, microcode emulates a second floating-point processor that triples throughput—a slower, integer floating-point processor that is used in compiling the 11/60's 46 instructions. Microcode is also used in the 11/60's writeable control store— DEC's first user-microprogrammable option. Altogether, the machine has three times as much microcode as the 11/40.

"The really interesting part of design is in making the hardware and software tradeoffs," says Mudge. "Today there are actually three elements— hardware, software, and also micro-code—and each of them changes with each new and very different generation of technology. Keep-ing track of them is really the big challenge."

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On the chip. The first monolithic data-acquisition system is Nation-

al's 16-channel 8- bit chip, built with C-MOS technology. Compatible

with most microcomputers, this a-d system succeeds in reducing

analog-conversion cost fivefold.

conversion modules, although the latter are still the best way to go when high resolution, high accuracy, and fast throughput rates are needed. In fact, most of the analog 1/o boards now emerging for use with microcomputer boards are being built with modules. But this situation should change as the board functions they provide are taken over by hybrids. The new hybrids are likely to include instrumentation amplifiers whose gain may be programmed with software, and even dc-dc converters for translating a 5-v logic supply up to the 15 y needed for many analog components.

Hybrid data-distribution systems are another possibil-ity, as are the voltage-to-current converters needed for industrial applications in which current loops must be driven. The latter will probably offer full input-to-output isolation for protection from transients and noise.

Bi-FET op amps: priced to compete

In operational amplifiers, the bi-FET bandwagon is building up quite a head of steam. These devices, which combine junction field-effect transistors and bipolar transistors on the same chip, now seem to be emerging as the most cost-effective performers in the mixed-process area — with good reason. They can be made inexpen-sively, requiring only an extra processing step of ion implantation, and they offer good low-noise perform-ance, broad bandwidth, and fast output slew rates.

Most important, though, this year the price of bi-FET op amps slid down to a level that permits them to compete with bipolar devices, like the ubiquitous 741, which have traditionally dominated the op-amp market. As a result of their toe-to-toe price scuffling, Texas Instruments Inc. and National Semiconductor Corp.

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The bi-FET move. Mixed bipolar-field-effect-transistor processing is

catching on with analog designers for high-quality front-end charac-

teristics at reasonable costs. By 1980, bi-FET input stages will be

used in 50% of all op amps built.

now have the cost of single general-purpose bi-FET op amps below 40 cents, with TI'S least expensive device going for 33 cents and National's going for 39 cents. These prices compare very favorably with the 25-cent price tag of the industry-standard bipolar 741, consid-ering the notable performance advantages of bi-FETS. What is more, as usage increases, prices for bi-FET op amps will probably drop even further, although not for the next few months at least. These devices, however, do have two significant draw-

backs—a fairly high initial input offset voltage and an input bias current that doubles every 10°C. But Precision Monolithics, using a current cancellation scheme and its zener-zap trimming, has come up with a line of precision bi-FET op amps that hold input offset voltage to only 0.5 millivolt and limit bias-current doubling to approxi-mately every 18°C.

In the coming year, the market will also see more mixed-process linears, both bi-FET and bi-mos. The former parts will most likely be data converters and sample-and-hold amplifiers; the latter—a combination of MOSFETS and bipolar transistors on the same chip— will most probably be analog multiplexers.

Pace quickens for power V-MOS

In the power area, V-groove mos technology is now definitely shaking up the status quo. Since last year, a small semiconductor company, Siliconix Inc., has been touting the performance advantages of the power MOSFETS made with its power v-mos process. Now, Sili-conix is no longer alone in believing in the future of power MOSFETS: at least two major semiconductor houses plan to have such devices on the market within the next


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You'll find the 8020A is the only DMM around with such impressive features for only $169* now and for

some time to come. Features that mean value and versatility, like 26 ranges and seven functions, including conduct-ance ( which measures leakage to 10"41). And three-way overload pro-tection. Hi-lo power ohms. And more.

In fact, the 8020A is 13 ozs. of pock-etable benchtop instrument perform-ance, in the Fluke tradition. Perform-ance you can count on for up to 200 hours of use with its inexpensive 9V battery, single custom CMOS LSI chip and low-power, razor-sharp 31/2-digit LCD display. Great performance, low cost: That's

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few months. One of them, Fairchild Semiconductor, is busy designing several and also intends to second-source the low-frequency power MOSFETS made by Siliconix, as a small company named Supertex is already doing.

Also, Siliconix is stepping up its efforts to build high-frequency power MOSFETS for radio-frequency chores, where it appears that v-mos really shines over bipolar technology. Appreciating this superiority, too, is Motor-ola Semiconductor Products, which has already made a 1-watt MOSFET for very-high-frequency applications and is planning to build higher-power devices that blanket all the rf bands. Other major bipolar power houses are now considering the viability of power FETS; their evaluations should be finished in the next three to six months.

Optical progress

Meanwhile, progress in other component areas also deserves noting. For instance, the performance of optical couplers has improved considerably. Also, these devices are now much easier to connect directly to logic circuitry. Some versions are fully temperature-compensated for transistor-transistor-logic applications, while others include up-front internal voltage regulators for easy line termination. As for visible-light-emitting diodes, many now have

internal current-limiting resistors; some even have

multiple junctions for use as multicolor indicators. Lenses for LEDS are improving as well, and better junc-tion designs are resulting in brighter devices that some-times even have a rectangular emitting area. Visible LEDS are also playing a bigger role in switching compo-nents. More dual in- line switches are including LED indicators for instant display of, say, a logic state; relays, too, are sporting them to show on/off conditions. And they are particularly evident in the newly emerging generation of solid-state interface modules intended for microprocessor-based control systems. ( Built around a solid-state relay, these modules come in input and output versions for converting an ac or dc voltage to a logic-compatible signal and vice versa.)

Plastics are becoming more common in switches, potentiometers, and trimmers. To reduce costs, manu-facturers are turning to these materials for fabricating shafts, bushings, and housings. In many cases, the plastic design eliminates sealing problems, since the shaft and housing may be molded to complement each other for a simple and extremely effective trouble- free seal.

In many component areas, even electromechanical relays, dual in- line or at least integrated-circuit-compat-ible configurations are becoming the rule. Makers of these relays are turning to fabrication techniques that lend themselves to volume production and easy automa-


COMPONENTS tion. Simplified all-welded designs are driving costs down, while offering increased operating reliability and longer life than their predecessors.

For low-cost, high-volume production, many solid-state relays are being manufactured with thick-film techniques, using either packaged discrete components or unpackaged chips mounted on a substrate containing thick- film conductors and resistors.

Thick film and relays

For example, employing packaged discrete devices on a thick-film substrate, Hamlin Inc. has managed to squeeze a complete optically coupled solid-state relay into a single in- line package of less than 1 cubic inch. The relay is one of the recent inexpensive bare-bones units, so it lacks an output snubber network for protec-tion against false firing caused by transients, although it does include zero-crossover input circuitry.

Thick film is even penetrating the fabrication of some electromechanical relays. Utilizing a thick-film timing module, Struthers-Dunn Inc. has cleverly converted standard electromechanical relays into time-delay units that occupy no more space than the regular relay alone. This simple design innovation also means lower costs, knocking down the price of time-delay relays by as much as half that of competitive units.

Resistors and capacitors have by no means been standing still, although the advances in this area are of a

PROFILE

much subtler nature. Improved inks for making thick-film resistor networks are giving rise to resistors that have a temperature stability of better than 50 parts per million and that can withstand laser trimming with no appreciable change in their characteristics. Furthermore, the coming generation of thick-film inks will require lower firing temperatures at shorter firing cycles, reducing manufacturing costs. On the capacitor scene, the search continues for ways

to upgrade the performance of aluminum electrolytics so that they may compete more directly with tantalum parts, which continue to get more expensive as the cost of tantalum goes up. In mid- 1979 the ban goes into effect on polychlorinated biphenyls (pcBs), the impreg-nant used for oil-filled capacitors for over three decades, and this prospect has manufacturers searching for a suitable substitute. All known non-pcB materials are combustible and increase capacitor size.

Finally, quartz crystals, an often neglected compo-nent, are very much in the limelight these days because of the high-volume usage brought about by digital watches and microprocessors. To meet these new demands, crystals are undergoing significant changes, shrinking in size and yet providing increased ruggedness. In addition, improved automatic manufacturing tech-niques are lowering costs and yielding devices whose working frequency may be modified easily— for instance, through laser trimming.

Master of precision linears

George Erdi is one of today's rarities— a top-notch analog designer. Now a design engineering manager at Precision Monolithics Inc., Erdi is the man responsible for some of the most significant breakthroughs in linear inte-grated circuits, with a number of firsts to his credit.

At the Santa Clara, Calif., firm, he has designed the first precision bipolar operational amplifier to be compensated internally, the first precision bipolar field-effect-transistor op amps, and the first precision sample-and-hold amplifier to be made in monolithic form. Additionally, he was responsible for designing the company's voltage references and precision comparators, as well as for perfecting zener-zap trimming as a cost-effective tech-nique for getting high performance out of a linear IC.

In fact, the comparators were the first linear ICs to contain compatible Schottky diodes, which Erdi used to speed up operation without degrading performance. Moreover, his design for the bi-FET op amps yielded notable improvements over existing devices— input offset voltage lowered to 0.5 millivolt, slew rate and bandwidth doubled, and input bias-current drift approximately halved.

Erdi joined PMI when it was founded back in 1969. Before that, right from school, he worked as a design engineer at Fairchild's Research and Development Labo-ratories in Palo Alto, Calif. During his three-year stay there, his efforts resulted in the 725, the first monolithic op amp to provide precision performance. At Fairchild, Erdi also was involved in the first attempt to build a digital-to-analog

118

converter on a single chip. In fact, it was this work that spurred the founding of PMI by a group from Fairchild who were interested in pursuing the potential of monolithic data converters.

Born in Hungary, Erdi left his native country after the unsuccessful 1956 revolution, emigrating to Canada. He received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from McGill University, then followed it with a master's in EE from the University of California at Berkeley.

For relaxation, Erdi swims and plays soccer. He also takes in concerts and plays as often as possible— on a recent five-day visit to New York, he happily attended the theater every night.

Erdi is extremely excited about the future of linear ICs, for the industry is just beginning to explore the numerous possibilities that mixed processing is opening up. The ability to utilize different, but compatible, processes on the same chip, he points out, will mean circuits that offer good digital and linear performance on the same piece of silicon, as is needed for data converters.

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INSTR UMENTS Digital troubleshooting. The Data Test

Corp. tester combines a digital multimeter

with a digital counter-timer in one package

for troubleshooting digital systems.

TECHNIQUES FOR SERVICING LS-BASED GEAR EVOLVE by Stephen E. Scrupski, Instrumentation Editor

The impact of microprocessors on instruments is proving to be more indirect than direct — but revolu-tionary all the same. Users of microprocessor-based equipment are urgently demanding test systems capable of servicing it, and already a few of the larger instrument companies have made significant moves toward filling this vacuum. Next year many others will also contribute to a bumper crop of service-oriented instruments, espousing many different approaches to fault diagnosis.

Generally, microprocessors have not pervaded test equipment itself to the extent that was predicted. Most instruments do not need complex controls or elaborate calculations, but must provide acceptable accuracies at ever more competitive prices. The growing ranks of low-cost, high-performance portable digital multimeters and counter-timers are evidence of this trend, and it is mainly the more complex high-speed counter-timers and spectrum analyzers that have found it profitable to exploit a microprocessor's capabilities.

The service problem

Designers of microprocessor-based equipment are coming under increasing pressure to take service tech-niques into account in their original designs. Although many different service techniques are emerging, prob-

ably all of them are effective in fault isolation if the designer translates his knowledge of a particular instru-ment's operation into troubleshooting methods tailored to servicing it. Possible approaches range from basic time-domain and voltage-measuring instruments, logic analyzers, and in-circuit•emulators adapted for testing, right on up to a brand-new technique from Hewlett-Packard Co. called signature analysis.

Signature analysis is still too new for it to be possible to judge if its impact on test-instrument technology will be an enduring one. An adaptation of the error-detection and -correction techniques traditional in digital equip-ment, it uses annotated schematics much as in television servicing, where the technician compares readings at test points with the readings on a schematic and traces discrepancies back through the circuit until their origin is reached.

However, the equipment to be tested must originally be designed to include the features that allow signature analysis. When it introduced the technique in March, the firm noted that upwards of 40 new HP instruments were having signature analysis designed into them as their maintenance technique.

Another approach claiming a growing number of adherents is in-circuit emulation, which has proven very


INSTR ITINENTS

15-V METER INPUT

DIGITAL MULTIMETER PRI

CE

S200

S150

$100

$50

15.03 V 15.05 V 15.09 V

METER READINGS

15.16 V

14.97 V 14.95 V 14.91 V

7

14.84 V

01% 0 25% 0.5% 1 DIGIT t 1 DIGIT ± 1 DIGIT

SPECIFIED ACCURACY (2,000-COUNT, 3%-DIGIT DMMs) 1 DIGIT

What price accuracy? For an input of 15 volts, various digital voltmeters may give different readings, depending on their specified

accuracies. Height of the vertical bars represents typical prices for meters having the accuracies noted on the horizontal scale.

effective in debugging microprocessor-based prototype systems. Now it is being adapted for use with those systems once they move into the field. Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif., the originator of in-circuit emula-tion, adapted it for servicing an instrument called the µ-Scope. By plugging the in-circuit emulation cable into the microprocessor socket in the system under test, the technician can apply the same troubleshooting tech-niques used in design to fault location in the field. Now, with signature analysis and in-circuit emulation

available as service techniques, what would the next step be? Combine the two— which Millenium Systems Inc., Cupertino, Calif., has done in its Microsystem Analyzer. In this unit, in-circuit emulation performs the overall functional tests, and then signature analysis takes over to track the faults down to the component level. Further, since the in-circuit emulator replaces the microprocessor, it can generate the digital patterns needed for signature analysis, which therefore need not be designed into the equipment originally. A more conventional approach to digital servicing is

being taken by Tektronix Inc. and Data Test Corp. Both supply Burroughs Corp. with a tester that combines multimeter functions (voltage, current, and resistance) with counter-timer functions (frequency, time interval, and transition counting) in a single package. Burroughs uses the instruments as service tools for its B80 series of computer systems, into which it designed features that make maximum use of the testers. However, the instru-ments would also be useful on other types of equipment.

Logic analyzers spread

Logic analyzers, up to this year high-priced units, are propagating downward into production testing and perhaps even into field service.

Hewlett-Packard Co.'s new $ 1,800 model 1602A

logic-state analyzer turns into a servicing tool when controlled by a computing controller through the IEEE-488 interface bus. The 1602A stores 64 words of 16 bits each at clock speeds up to 10 megahertz. If a diagnostic procedure is written for a particular system, a trouble-shooter can use a program tape to step the system through its operations, comparing the results on the light-emitting-diode display with the written procedure. The 1602A is also evidence of two significant trends in

logic analyzers— lower costs and easier-to-use functions. The $ 1,800 unit is completely keyboard-controlled, and its single- line LED display can show logic states in any of four formats— hexadecimal, decimal, octal, or binary. The data probe pod includes a printed-circuit-type edge connector so that it could also be connected to specially designed printed-circuit boards for fault diagnosis.

Portability will naturally be important in the field as well as in the lab. The new model 920-D from Biomation Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., a 20-MHz unit selling for $1,295, is a portable 9.5 pounds. One unusual feature of the 920-D is the addition of an extra channel to pick up an extra bit. The unit, with basically an 8-bit-wide input, has a ninth channel to pick up, say, parity bits or to examine triggering relationships. Up to now, logic analyzers have been either timing

analyzers or logic-state analyzers. But next year should see a new generation of analyzers that will combine timing and state displays. With such equipment, the user will be able to do such tasks as capture certain timing waveforms based on triggers generated by logic states on the buses.

Until this year, the technology of portable meters has primarily been advanced through better custom large-scaled integrated circuits for analog-to-digital conversion. John Fluke Manufacturing Co.'s $ 169 31/2 digit model 8020A, for example, contains a custom chip


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INSTR UMENTS examples of products in this class are spectrum analyzers from Tektronix and Hewlett-Packard. The model 7L18 from the Beaverton, Ore., firm is a

plug-in unit for the Tek 7000 series oscilloscope main-frames. It covers 1.5 gigahertz to 18 GHZ with direct input and can resolve 30 hertz at input frequencies up to 12 GHZ. A microprocessor automatically controls the settings of the resolution and sweeps to set up the optimum conditions. An mos memory stores traces and allows display of two traces for comparison. The HP unit, model HP-8568A, is a lower-frequency unit, covering 100 HZ to 1.5 GHZ, and uses three microprocessors to control functions, calculate results, and compute correc-tion factors. Results are displayed on the CRT along with the trace, and it, too, has a semiconductor memory for storing control settings and displays.

Enhancing with microprocessors

Next year will see many more upper-end instruments incorporating microprocessors for control and computa-tion functions. High-quality universal counter-timers, for example, can make good use of a microprocessor to calculate time-interval averages and set trigger levels, and next year will see new instruments of this type. Dana Laboratories, model 9000, now a couple of years old, set the style for this type of instrument and is still being enhanced with new features that can be handled by the microprocessor. Also, the need for higher speeds in elec-

PROFILE

tronic circuitry will challenge instrument designers to develop new methods of precision time measurements down in the picosecond range. Here, the problem requires not only a microprocessor to handle computa-tions, but also a very stable oscillator.

Use of the IEEE-488 standard interface bus for inter-connecting instruments in automated test setups grew steadily throughout 1977. There now are about 300 different instruments from about 90 different manufac-turers with circuitry that makes them compatible with the bus. There was growing evidence, however, of prob-lems with bus formats not covered by the standard, and moves were afoot to create a "third party" to help in the interchange of information among users of the bus. The National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Md., has expressed interest in becoming this third party and also in serving as a source of educational material on the bus. The NBS, in fact, has been using equipment connected via the bus to automate many of its own calibration services in Gaithersburg. One of the major technical developments from the

NBS this year was the development of a portable voltage standard based on the Josephson effect. Since 1972, the legal volt has been defined in terms of the Josephson junction, and the standard now in Gaithersburg has an accuracy of a few parts in 108. The portable units, initially intended for circulation among various military laboratories, have an accuracy of about 1 part in 106.

Designer of a best-selling meter

Hitting the best-seller list is no less an engineer's goal than an author's. One of the few engineers in this category is Paul Lucas, vice president of engineering at Data Preci-sion Corp., Wakefield, Mass., whose $295 model 245 portable 41/2-digit multimeter has sold about 50,000 copies. By now it is the best-selling 41/2-digit DMM of either the portable or the bench type.

Lucas, Bernard Gordon, Harold Goldberg, and Robert Scheinfein ( respectively, Data Precision chairman, presi-dent, and sales vice president) met to define the product back in 1972. At the time, there was nothing as small (an easily hand-held 13/4 by 51/2 by 31/2 inches) and accurate (0.03% ± 1 digit basic dc accuracy) as the 245 was to be. "After we decided on the package, it was my job to fit everything in," he says, "and that was a nightmare." With dc-dc converters and high-voltage display multiplexing circuitry creating interference and little room for shielding,

early models read close to full scale just from the internal pickup. " It fought me every inch of the way," he says, but finally he reduced the crosstalk to an equivalent input level below 100 microvolts, the minimum resolution on the lowest range. Once the meter went into production, in 1973, the sales

curve took off. Lucas evinces little surprise at its success: "We expected to sell about 10,000 units a year, and we even did a little better than that." Why did it sell so well? "It met a need — there was simply nothing else on the market with its small size, low price, and accuracy."

Lucas, a math graduate from Boston University, has spent his entire engineering career in the Boston area, much of the time associated with Gordon, whom many consider the industry's leading expert on analog-to-digital conversion techniques. Lucas began with Epsco Inc. in 1958, where he met Gordon, then after stints at Adage Inc. and Brower Engineering rejoined Gordon at Gordon Engineering, which later spun off Data Precision. As for the future of DMMs, Lucas notes the semicon-

ductor makers' steady incursions with low-cost chip-display kits, from which a 31/2-digit DMM can easily be assembled with the addition only of some extra signal-conditioning circuitry. Instrument manufacturers, however, have the expertise required, for example, to build accurate input circuitry for handling really low-level signals. So he expects that these companies will remain at the upper end of the meter range, where higher accuracies and higher precisions are necessary.

125

COMMUNICATIONS

FIBER

New look. For the first time, an optical-fiber terminal (fore-

ground) found its way into the copper-wire preserves of a

General Telephone Company of California toll office. An equip-

ment installer is inserting a repeater board into the terminal.

OPTICS, 151 WAND SYSTEM CAPACITIES by Richard Gundlach, Communications Editor

D The outpourings of messages in the communications-oriented societies of today call for ever-stronger elec-tronic measures to contain them, and so it's fiber optics and Lst to the rescue. To multiply the cable capacity of telephone systems, optical-fiber communications links are beginning to carry actual telephone traffic in the U. S., with similar setups being readied overseas. To meet the demands for greater channel capacity and better utilization of the radio spectrum, large-scale inte-gration and microprocessor technology are being applied in all fields— even in citizens' band radios.

Also this year, high-capacity cellular mobile radio-telephone systems are moving toward field trials. The well-established microwave radio systems are benefiting from better traveling-wave tubes that make possible single-sideband techniques, which triple the capacity of existing networks. Moving just as rapidly is satellite technology, with plans advancing fast for higher-power, high-capacity satellites and for small, less costly antennas and earth stations.

Fiber-optic technology is moving into the rigorous environment of the telephone network. This year, Amer-ican Telephone and Telegraph and General Telephone and Electronics installed systems that carry customers' messages and data. These short links are bringing the

wider bandwidth and hence greater channel capacity of glass fibers right into the home preserve of copper cable.

Abroad, experimental work is concentrating more on systems with performance that exceeds that of the stan-dard telephone network. In Britain, the rrr subsidiary, Standard Telephone and Cables Ltd., successfully sent 140-megabit-per-second test traffic over a 9-kilometer link between two towns. In 1978, a similar installation in Tokyo, will carry voice and data along a 20-km route connecting four telephone exchanges of the Nippon Tele-graph and Telephone Public Corp.

Other foreign efforts

Separate efforts by Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken in The Netherlands and the Centro Studie Laboratori Tele-communicazioni SPA of Turin, Italy, produced 140-mb/s data transmission over fiber-optic links. Perhaps the highest data rate to come out of the lab is reported by Nrr's Musashino Electrical Communication Laboratory. Its optic system transmits 800-mbis signals on a 7-km length of single-mode cables. Error rate is less than 10 -9.

Fiber optics is still an expensive technology, but dwin-dling costs are augured by several advances in both the fiber processing and the laser diodes that send the light signals. These developments include cost-effective


COMMUNICATIONS

LSI IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LSI circuits

Application

Telephone Private Iii ¡Inch

exchanges

Cen tral office

Carrier

Pulse dialers

Repertory dialers

Tone dialers

Tone decoders

Tone receivers

Repeaters

Codes ( delta and pulse-code modulation) '

Frequency synthesizers

Analog companders

Modulator/ demodulators

Multiplexers

Filters

Microprocessors

Memories

performance hikes, as well as direct cost-cutting. The price of the glass-fiber replacements for copper

cable is crucial. Manufacturers put today's bare fiber costs at about $1 per meter, but they think volume production will drop that to about 10 cents a meter. However, Theodore A. Litovitz and Pedro B. Macedo of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C., have announced a process based on bulk chemical treatment rather than vapor deposition. They claim it is now capable of producing bare fibers for 10 cents a meter, and process refinement will drop the cost to a penny a meter. Such a price break would strengthen fiber optics' bid

for the telephone, cable-television, and data-link markets. But the production of these fibers outside the laboratory is still a question mark. The answer will be forthcoming: Canada Wire and Cable Ltd. and Britain's Pilkington Bros. Ltd. are licensing the technology. As important as reducing fiber costs are the perform-

ance improvements that point the way to longer-lived, more powerful gallium-aluminum-arsenide lasers. This year Bell Laboratories reported achieving a significant goal: solid-state lasers with average projected lifetimes of 1 million hours, based on accelerated aging tests. Another important goal is more powerful laser diodes

that oscillate in a stable fundamental mode. Researchers at ism's research center in Yorktown Heights, N. Y., are reporting development of a diode that produces an essen-tially round spot of light only 2 micrometers in diameter and has an optical power of 85 milliwatts, about three times that previously reported for stable round-spot devices. The small spot of the Ism diode means it can easily couple its optical power to small fibers at efficien-cies higher than 70%. Moreover, it can handle data rates in excess of 100 Mb/s.

Promising work is also under way with tunable diodes. which will be an efficient way of producing the multiple channels necessary for frequency multiplexing. One

route is the optical-feedback scheme being developed by Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center in California. By optically pumping various portions of a split-waveguide laser, it has tuned them over a 3-nanometer band. Along the same lines, Cornell University researchers

have demonstrated an electronically adjustable diode that has a laser line width of less than 0.05 nm. Over a 5-nm tuning range, then, there would be 100 channels that could be multiplexed. The electro-optic tuner Cornell is using can switch in 5 nanoseconds: sweeping across 100 channels at this rate gives a multiplexing bandwidth of 200 gigahertz.

Another IBM development is a novel package that makes laser arrays practical. Such an array can provide many separate data channels for communications. In display or printing applications, it can provide an entire page of information at once [Electronics, Sept. 15, p. 40]. The key to practicality is providing precise alignment without expensive machining by the use of the same preferential-etching technology employed in making V-groove metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors.

LSI answers the call

Microprocessors and other 1st circuits are providing more and more solutions to tough problems in all phases of communications technology, from mobile telephones and citizens' band radios to satellites and digital exchanges [Electronics, April 28, p. 93]. Continuing is the push to develop low-cost is) coder/decoders—poten-tially, the most widely used device in digital communica-tions. With digital techniques becoming more common-place, dozens of companies are developing both pulse-code-modulation and delta-modulation codecs and the related charge-coupled-device filters. Ahead in the race are Bell Northern Research of

Canada and Intel, which are putting finishing touches on PCM codec chips that include CCD filters. Precision Monolithics Inc., which introduced the companding digi-tal-to-analog converter chip in 1975, is offering LSI parts that combine with the converter to make an eight-channel multiplexing PCM codec. A hybrid PCM codec developed by Stromberg-Carlson

Corp. of Rochester, N. Y., is used in the computer-controlled digital telephone switch for small central offices, first installed this year. Combining five inte-grated-circuit chips in a package about the size of a 22-pin dual in-line package, the codec meets the strin-gent performance requirements of the small offices, which demand a codec cheap enough to dedicate one to each telephone line. LSI technology made this possible.

Another tack is under investigation by the British Post Office, which is looking into a combination of delta modulation and PCM to provide a codec cheap enough to be used on individual telephone lines. Nor are codecs limited to telephone networks. Satellite Business Systems plans to use 32-bit delta-modulation units on the analog voice ports in all its earth-station equipment. Of course, codecs will not be the only Ls' circuits in

communications equipment. The table lists applications


COMMUNICATIONS

for specially designed chips in communications. Large-scale integration also is being used in chips

under development to encrypt data for secure transmis-sion. The National Bureau of Standards has set a Government data-encryption standard that should give impetus to this development. However, it may be two years before a full range of chips is widely available.

Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp. of Mountain View, Calif., has developed a high-speed bit-slice multi-chip encryption approach that will find use in many communications applications besides data terminals [Electronics, Sept. 1, p. 32]. Its devices should be avail-able later this year at $30 a set — dropping to about $ 10 as production volume increases. Motorola and Rockwell also are moving rapidly towards marketing such devices.

More mobile-telephone channels

Today's mobile radiotelephone is a highly popular piece of equipment— so much in demand that there are too few radio channels to serve those who want to subscribe. Many subscribers also find that mobility is a loaded question, since the phones generally cannot be removed from the automobile. To overcome the limitation on the number of channels,

AT&T and Motorola are betting on the cellular approach. Such a system will achieve more efficient use of the spectrum by reusing frequencies and controlling trans-mission power. Each radiotelephone base station serves subscribers within the geographic area ( cell) that its signal reaches. Within a cluster of contiguous cells, each is allocated a set of frequencies. Neighboring cells are assigned a different set of frequencies to avoid interfer-ence. However, cells far enough apart may simulta-neously use the same set of frequencies.

By reducing the transmitted power along with the size of the cell, the same frequency can be reused more often within a given area, thus serving many more users. If more subscribers than channels exist, the cell size can be made smaller to allow several clusters to occupy an area previously taken up by a single cluster. The user is assigned to one channel, but as he or she

Getting it all together. A Bell Telephone Laboratories' engineer

checks the combiner-bay assembly, part of Bell's high-capacity

mobile-telephone cellular equipment that combines the output of

each of 16-channel power amplifiers into a single transmission line.

travels from one cell to another, the transmissions are handed off from base station to base station by a switching office. The base stations and the switching office will have sophisticated equipment that can juggle the transmissions among the available frequencies in each cell without any interruption of service as far as the subscriber is concerned. To make this cellular approach work will require extensive use of Lsi and microcomputer technology for components and control systems to improve performance, minimize interference, and store and display information.

Both Motorola and Bell are putting together trial cellular systems, under the watchful eye of the Federal Communications Commission. Also, Motorola is devel-oping a radiotelephone small enough to fit into a shirt pocket or purse and is designing its cellular system to accommodate these portables.

A new breed of CBs

Citizens' band transceivers also are benefiting from Lsi technology. This year, digital frequency-synthesizer ics made the manufacturers' changeover from 23-channel sets to 40-channel units both easy and inexpen-sive. At least a dozen semiconductor manufacturers are competing for a place in the 40-channel models by offering monolithic synthesizers in both the bipolar and complementary-mos technologies. One of the more advanced c-mos designs is from RCA [Electronics, April 28, p. 77]. It even includes an on-chip voltage-controlled oscillator and requires only an external reference crystal, an RC network, and tuned LC circuit. Such synthesizers are just the harbinger of the move

to make Cu into a kind of universal mobile phone. Besides providing circuits for better transmission and reception, advanced semiconductor technology is being tapped to provide easy-to- use single-sideband radios and to send coded selective-call signals, which enable a user to receive only those transmissions he elects.

Reflecting this change in direction is Texas Instru-ments' combination of single-sideband CB transceiver and a-m radio. The Dallas firm's models will be the first CB units to use microprocessor technology [Electronics, May 12, p. 31]. The circuitry uses two 4- bit TMS1100 microcomputers— one scanning the push buttons in the handset and the other automating functions in the trans-ceiver such as eliminating the need to continuously tune a clarifier to make ssa transmissions inteligible.

Microwave radio, the workhorse of long-distance transmission of voice, data, and television traffic, is getting a technical refurbishing. The immediate problem is more traffic than existing systems can handle, so work is concentrating on cost-effectively increasing channel capacity and using computer-assisted adaptive sharing of existing and future facilities.


How fast can you measure rise time, fall time and pulse width?

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1. Connect signal. 2. Push button for RISE TIME. 3. Push f• but ton for PULSE WIDTH. 4. Push ',-button for FALL TIME.

The rest is automatic.

Your move. Give us a call and we'll tell you how the Dana 9000 Microprocessing Timer/Counter can solve your measurement problem the easy way.

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COMMUNICATIONS

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MONITOR AND COMMAND LOOP TERMINAL

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TIME-DIVISION-MULTIPLE-ACCESS BURST MODEM

TRANSMIT I. SUBSYSTEM

RECEIVE 1 SUBSYSTEM

All digital. Key ingredients of SBS earth stations are the satellite communications controller that performs multiple-access, switching, and

control functions and the burst modem that enables bursts of digital data to be transmitted to each satellite channel on a time-shared basis.

For example, Bell is using sss techniques to triple the capacity of its microwave relay equipment, which handles about 70% of U. S. interstate calls. The main stumbling block was system nonlinearities, which restrict overall channel capacity. To reduce these nonlinearities, Bell is using an improved traveling-wave-tube amplifier in its transmitters, while predistorting the signals to cancel any distortions generated by the TwT.

Other advances coming

Future microwave systems will benefit from other technological advances: terminal multiplexing equip-ment that will more efficiently combine the 6,000 voice circuits per channel that SSB makes possible, a special microwave preamplifier to handle a-m, sset, and conven-tional fm channels in a single transmitting unit, and space-diversity antennas to counter fading. The move towards digital transmission will benefit from develop-ments in digital-switching and multiplexing technology, as well as improvements in solid-state components. The growth of satellite communications is just getting

started, but its role as an important means of transmit-ting voice, data, and TV signals is already assured. To

help the space systems cope with increasing volumes of traffic, several technical advances are going into the generation of satellites that will go into orbit within the next three years. The trend clearly is towards putting more power and

circuit capacity into the satellites at higher frequencies. Such frequencies reduce interference from terrestrial communications while allowing lower-cost earth stations with smaller antennas and greater bandwidth. The increased capacity comes from frequency-reuse tech-niques with dual polarization of antennas in transmit and receive and beam-steering schemes that permit continuous real-time reassignment of channel capacity to accommodate the varying needs of users.

New technology for satellites

For example, the Intelsat V satellite will carry Ku-band spot-beam antennas that will use dual-polariza-tion, multiple, shaped beams. Its complex transponder with 27 channels switchable between various antenna coverages will use 43 Tw-r amplifiers (almost twice as many as in preceding satellites), 15 solid-state receivers using microwave ic technology, and novel contiguous-

Ellectronics/October 27, 1977 131

COMMUNICATIONS band output filters that reduce the number of such devices necessary for the same level of selectivity.

Satellite Business Systems is readying the first all-digital satellite network for U. S. coverage. As well as lowering the cost of sending data, this new communica-tions network features small low-cost antennas and cheaper earth-station equipment to be installed at the subscribers' business locations. The all-digital, fully switched, private network will utilize the advanced tech-nique of time-division multiple access with demand assignment, thereby providing each customer with its own communications net. The networks can be tailored to meet each customer's requirements, and each will be able to allocate its satellite capability dynamically among the earth stations in its network in order to meet real-time traffic requirements.

Already in orbit is the experimental Canadian satel-lite, Hermes (formerly called the crs), and it is proving out the concept of higher frequencies and smaller receiving antennas. Japan is readying its experimental broadcast and communications satellite that will help develop the technologies for its planned domestic satel-lite system. The new satellites will operate in the 12- and 14-GHz

bands, thus providing relief from interference on the

PROFILE

heavily used 4- and 6-GHz bands shared by terrestrial links and present satellites. Moreover, technology for 18-and 30-GHz operation is coming on fast.

However, these 12-GHz-and-up bands present some problems. One problem to be solved is that orthogonal antenna polarization, which allows frequency reuse, may not work well with the 12-GHz-and-up bands. Moreover, satellite transmitters must be more powerful to get a good signal-to-noise ratio in conjunction with the use of the smaller earth-station antennas. For instance, heavy rain may cause signal fading or even outages.

High-power amplifiers are being developed for both satellite and ground-station use at these higher frequen-cies. For example, Litton made a 200-watt TWT for Hermes; Hughes' 100-w TWT will be used in the Japa-nese satellite; and both Telefunken and Siemens in West Germany have developed 500-w TWTS.

Under investigation are electronic beam-steering and beam-shaping techniques that will put more power into selected satellite signal transmissions. Beam steering concentrates the signal on a specific area, while beam shaping focuses the signal so that it does not overlap into other areas. General Electric's Space division in Phila-delphia and NASA'S Goddard Space Flight Center are investigating the technology required for such systems.

The team that made fiber-optic links a reality

Achieving a practical fiber-optic system that could with-stand the rigors of a telephone operating environment and of installation by someone besides highly skilled lab personnel is no small task. But Bell Telephone Laborato-ries researchers did just that last year when they demon-strated a link working in a simulated operating telephone environment in Atlanta, Georgia. The fiber-optic system not only worked well with existing telephone equipment, but the cable was pulled through telephone ducts and mass-spliced without any handling of individual fibers. Although many individuals contributed to that break-

through, which paved the way for a similar real-world installation in Chicago this year, three Bell Labs engineers played major roles in making the first practical fiber-optic telecommunications link a reality.

Joe Mullins (center) guided the electronics and systems design. The only physicist in the trio, he never had any doubts about the electronics needed for the link. But he remembers saying skeptically, "The day I have a demountable fiber-optic connector, I'll believe it."

Of course, that day did come, but not without many moments of anxiety, according to Jack Cook (left), who was responsible for the interconnec-tions and system characterization. "The problem of molding the single-fiber connectors for the telephone distribution frames with sufficient accuracy to assure low-loss con-nections was solved almost at the last minute," he says. "Western Electric's Engineering Research Cen-ter took standard stock brass tubing

132

and formed it into a double cone that precisely centered the fibers."

Mort Schwartz, who was responsible for the cables, the cable connectors, and installation, saw the biggest problem as taking existing technology and simplifying it so that workers with no special skills could handle the fiber-optic links as easily as twisted pairs of wire. "Right now we can do splicing more quickly and simply with optical fibers than we can with standard twisted-wire cables," he says. "And we are making splice cases not much bigger than the fiber-optic cable dimensions."

All three are involved in Bell's ongoing fiber-optic program and are anxious to see how everything holds up under long-term exposure to harsh environments. They agree that optical fibers will not replace metallic conduc-tors until devices, connectors, and fibers all come down in price. But they are convinced such drops will happen fairly soon. Also, they feel what is needed are longer-wave-length sources in the 1,200-nanometer region where fiber losses are less and and there is less of a problem with material dispersion, which limits the system range and bandwidth, especially when light-emitting diodes are used.

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Now you can get into automatic testing equipment (ATE) for well under $10,000, total cost.

All you need is one of the units pictured, the new SPG-800 Synthesized Programmable Generator, and a little do-it-yourself ef-fort. Just use one of the units pictured to store your test procedure program with simple instructions to command the SPG-800 (and any other programmable instruments you use) and you're off and running.

No more knob spinning. No more hooking up counters and scopes and voltmeters to your signal source. Now automatic testing is within reach of every manufacturer—along with the savings in time and labor it means.

And the Model SPG-800 is a modu-lar instrument. So you can get started with just the basic unit for only $3195. It is a combination programmable func-tion generator operating in the 0.1Hz to 13MHz range and a programmable DC voltage source.

The new SPG-800. Please send me full information

Name

Now or later, add Interstate's low cost field-installable plug-in cards and you'll have a programmable synthesizer and pulse generator too— four programmable test instruments in one.

Interfacing the SPG-800 is easy, too. Use its basic ASCII inter-face or one of its (optional) plug-in cards for the IEEE bus, the RS-232C or 20 mil loop or parallel interface.

No matter what configuration you order, you'll find the SPG-800 easy to program and reliable in use. And the optional operator control panel—in English—is easily learned by non-technical per-

sonnel, so you can program it directly, the day you get it.

If you didn't think your company could afford ATE, it's time to re-think... write today for more information Or call us at (714) 772-2811 or (800) 854-3825 toll free.

Company

Address

City State Zip

Telephone Number

Interstate Electronics Corp. Department 7000 P.O. Box 3117. Anaheim, CA 92803

I NTERSTATE E ILECTRONICS CORPORATION SUBSIDIARY OIATI

OPYRIGHT 1977 — INTERSTATE ELECTRONICS CORPORATION


PACKAGING & PRODUCTION Electron-beam effects. An 8.192-bit FET

RAM chip made with IBM's Vector Scan

electron-beam lithography system typifies

the next LSI generation. The scanning elec-

tron-beam micrograph shows the 2-µm-wide

metallization lines and 1.25-µm-long gates

on the chip's surface.

E-BEAM SYSTEMS ARRIVE, FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS FLOURISH by Jerry Lyman, Packaging & Production Editor

CI The fine- line circuit patterns of today's advanced Lsi are forcing semiconductor manufacturers to buy new and more refined lithographic and etching equipment. Last year's densest, large-scale integrated circuits could get away with the 5-micrometer line widths possible with contact printing and wet etching. But by now the move is towards 2-µm and eventually submicrometer resolution, which demands at least optical projection methods or electron-beam lithography, plus dry plasma etching. As for the chips already emerging from the new

equipment, some will undoubtedly be mounted on flex-ible printed-circuits, suddenly a popular choice for many industrial and commercial applications. Others may end up on bumped film-carriers, the latest approach to production- line chip handling.

Given this context, the year's most important develop-ment— the one that will have the biggest industrywide impact— is the appearance and acceptance of commer-cially available electron-beam systems for the manufac-ture of lc masks. Until 1977, most large systems of this kind were designed and constructed in house by such firms as Texas Instruments, IBM, Bell Labs, Japan's Cooperative Laboratory, the Sescosem division of France's Thomson-csF, Germany's Siemens AG and the Elcoma division of Philips of the Netherlands. Most

machines are for precision mask manufacture, but two— IBM's ELI and the Japanese machine— are high-throughput machines for computer-controlled direct exposure of patterns on silicon wafers covered with a light-sensitive resist. The direct exposure of wafers is the ideal lithography method, because it eliminates the mask-making step and automatically compensates for wafer distortion, but it is cost-effective only on high-throughput machines.

During 1977, redesigned commercial versions of Bell Labs' EBES mask-maker have come from Etec Corp., Hayward, Calif., and Varian Associates' Extrion divi-sion, Gloucester, Mass. The $ 1- million-plus machines, Etec's MEBES and Extrion's EBMG-20, take about an hour to expose a wafer up 5 inches in diameter. Extrion recently sold its first system to the mask-making firm of Ultratech Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif., while Etec has already delivered a unit to Fairchild Camera and Instru-ment Corp. and has another ready to go to RCA'S Solid State division. By the end of next year, there will be at least a dozen

commercial electron-beam machines in operation, and for the next two to three years, their main use will be to make master masks for use in optical projection lithogra-phy. But once lc technology moves to line and space


PACKAGING & PRODUCTION resolutions of less than 1 or 2 gm, direct electron-beam exposure of the wafer will be required. At that time, semiconductor makers will need systems with through-puts approaching lam's ELI, which now handles 22 2h/4 inch wafers per hour.

Meanwhile, optical projection lithography is becoming an increasingly important production technique. It has proven more cost-effective for tsi than contact printing, since it prolongs mask life and offers higher wafer yield.

Virtually all of today's projection printing of Lsi wafers, both in the U. S. and abroad, is being done with machines produced by Perkin-Elmer Corp., Norwalk, Conn. Built around a reflecting optic system, these units are 1:1 projection systems (the mask reproduces the entire wafer pattern and not just the individual chip pattern).

Projecting the present

The firm's latest model has an improved condensing lens for shorter exposure times. It can expose 90% of a 4-inch wafer and has an automatic load feature that permits cassette loading of wafers. All the Perkin-Elmer machines are manually aligned and can expose lines and spaces 2 gm wide with an alignment error of 1 gm.

Cobilt, a division of Computervision Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., is developing a 1:1 system that will auto-matically align wafers as large as 5 inches in diameter. This machine should become available next year.

Another type of optical printer now becoming avail-able to lc manufacturers is the reduction-projection system. The mask in this case is much easier to manufac-ture, being an enlarged (4 x or 10 x) image of a single IC pattern cut out of a chrome plate. Through this reticle the system projects a reduced image onto a wafer, then gradually steps the reticle and repeats the exposure across the entire wafer. Resolution is significantly higher than with the 1:1 projection system.

For instance, the FPA 141 from the Japanese firm of Canon Inc. uses a 4X reticle that can print 0.89-gm-wide lines in a positive resist and 1-gm-wide lines in a negative resist. Alignment accuracy is 0.125 gm, and maximum wafer diameter is 3 inches. Throughput is 30 wafers an hour. The Netherlands' Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken has

an in-house computer-controlled wafer/mask-alignment system based on the reduction-projection principle. Called the silicon repeater (siRE), this system projects lc patterns with a 5:1 reduction ratio onto a wafer. Minimum resolution is 2 gm, alignment accuracy is 0.1 gm, and maximum wafer size is 4 inches. The latest machine of this type comes from GCA

Corp.'s Burlington division in Burlington, Mass. Its type 3696 optical photorepeater exposes wafers to the image from either a 10 X or 5X reticle and then step-and-repeats this image across the wafer, which may be up to 4 inches in diameter. With a 10X reticle the system can achieve resolutions of 1.25 and 1.5 gm with a throughput of 20 wafers per hour. A 5 x reticle changes resolution to 2 gm and throughput to 30 to 35 wafers per hour. A

OPTICAL 1:1 PROJECTION

PRINTING

ELECTRON-BEAM I OR OPTICAL ,.' PROJECTION/

REDUCTION

Shrinking lines. Today's integrated-circuit geometries, fabricated

by optical and projection printing, are at the 5-µm level. By 1980,

demands for 1-µm details will see the first large-scale employment of

direct electron-beam exposure of silicon wafers.

fourth machine of this type is in development at Ultra-tech Corp., Santa Clara, Calif. The new reduction-projection machines will compete

with electron-beam systems for wafers with pattern details in the 1-to- 2-gm range. Prices of commercial step-and-repeat optical projection units are about a third of the $ 1.5 million electron-beam units. In addition, the less costly systems have greater throughputs than present commercial electron-beam machines. The evolution of integrated-circuit lithography from

contact printing to the present state of the art is shown above. By 1980, when line widths of 1 gm will be required, direct electron-beam exposure and X-ray methods should take over.

Plasma processing

As the IC industry moves to near-micrometer line widths, plasma etching is gradually displacing wet etch-ing. Using a cloud of ionized gas as the etchant, it will be found in most new IC processing lines because of its higher yields and easier disposal vis à vis the environ-ment. This same basic method also is being used to deposit silicon nitride on IC wafers.

At present, plasma processing is in transition. changing over from cylindrical reactors, which produced a quality of etching that could vary widely from wafer to wafer, to parallel-plate types, which produce a more uniform electric field. Also, unlike the older units, which could etch only silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, the parallel-plate equipment can etch aluminum because of the longer life of its plasma particles. For instance, two new plasma reactors from DW Industries, Sunnyvale, Calif., and International Plasma Corp., Hayward, Calif., can etch into aluminum—a development that could


PACKAGING & PRODUCTION

Production plasma. plasma. Cassette-to-cassette wafer handling, micropro-

cessor control, and high throughput are important features of LFE

Corp.'s System 8000 for plasma deposition of silicon nitride. These

same features should appear on future plasma etching systems.

herald the elimination of all wet lc etching. A drawback of all plasma etchers and depositors is

that throughput still hovers around 40 to 50 wafers per hour. lc firms would prefer something closer to the wet-etching rate— say 150 wafers per hour.

Also, the present machines require manual loading of wafers onto a platform. The first not to do so is an in-line silicon- nitride-plasma deposition system manufactured by LFE Corp., Waltham, Mass. The system 8000, illus-trated above left, automatically transfers each wafer from a cassette through a load lock that preheats them and evacuates the processing region to the low-micro-meter range. The wafer then enters the processing region upon command from a microprocessor controller, receives a preset amount of silicon nitride, and is made to exit through an unload lock into a cassette receiver. Wafer throughput can be as high as 90 wafers per hour. The LFE machine, which is not a parallel-plate unit,

approaches what ic manufacturers would like to see in other depositors or in plasma etchers— in- line capability and high throughput. The future should bring larger, microprocessor-controlled, parallel-plate reactors with in-line capability. Also, etching versions of their new units will be able to handle all the materials commonly encountered in present mos and bipolar processes.

A flexible explosion

In the fields of packaging and interconnections, one of this year's biggest stories is the growth of flexible printed circuitry. Probably 10% of all printed circuits produced will be of the flexible type, now that the material prob-lems are solved and the approach is winning acceptance.

Flexible circuitry is changing electronics designers' approach to commercial and consumer packaging. They

Flexible phone. Flexible circuitry lets the electronics designer bend

his system to fit into an irregularly shaped volume. Shown is a

sophisticated application of flexible circuits in an avionic intercom

headset from Telephonics, a division of Instrument Systems Corp.

are getting away from the standard mother-daughter rigid board or card-file approaches and starting to emulate military systems by fitting the electronics wiring and components to the shape of a unit, whether it is a camera, telephone, or pacemaker. The photograph above on the right shows how complex electronic circuitry is squeezed into the headset of an airline intercom at Instrument Systems Corp.'s Telephonics division, Hunt-ington, N. Y. Without the multiplanar packaging feature of flexible circuitry, this packaging solution would have not been possible.

Within the next few years there should be many new developments within this field. Flexible circuits subtrac-tively etched with fine lines less than 1 mil wide ( 10 mils is the normal width now) should be used more and more, particularly for designs in which bare chips or film-carrier devices are bonded directly to a flexible substrate. Multilayer flexible circuits also should start acquiring nonmilitary uses.

It is already fairly usual to stiffen a flexible substrate with a bare rigid board. This has been done to enable the flexible printed circuit to support fairly heavy compo-nents. But the future will see the combination of flexible circuits with rigid boards become more usual. The two will be connected through common plated-through holes, and the flexible portions will fan out into many planes. A combination rigid and flexible multilayer board will unite the best features of the two types

Finally, simpler and cheaper connectors for flexible


Ask Control Data

From Control Data, you get both core and advanced semi-conductor memory. You get "state of the art" in high der-sity packaging techniques. (Example: the 94550 sem - conductor memory provides 1 megabyte in the 51/4" rack shown above!) You get com-petitive pricing, in custom or off-the-shelf standard con-figurations!

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Electronics/October 27, 1977 Circle 137 on reader service card 1 37

You won't find a more versatile teleprinter for

the price. It's that simple. fl .4è

The New Centronics Model 761. No other teleprinter offers you more operating fea-

tures— or a lower price. Because the 761 gives you micro-processor-control for maximum flexibility and lower-priced options.

Plus, the 761 gives you easier, more versatile opera-tion.. . with maximum printout visibility.. . typewriter-style electronic keyboard that anyone can use without special training. table-top or free-standing installation... pinch roll, pin-feed platen or tractor paper handling sys-tems ... and a wide choice of 300 baud serial interfaces... in KSR and RO models.

And when you need fast, dependable service, remember the 761 is backed by one of the industry's best service pro-grams. More than 100 professionally staffed service offices worldwide ... a unique on-line diagnostic test center... central dispatch with toll-free phone access. .. and mainte-nance contracts as attractively priced as the 761.

More versatility, better service and reliability proven by more than 80,000 Centronics printers installed, make the 761 teleprinter simply a better choice. The only choice. Call today for details. Centronics Data Computer Corp., Hudson, N.H., 03051, Tel. (603) 883-0111 or Centronics Offices in Canada and throughout the world.

cEnumnirs PRIMERS Simply Better

Circle 139 on reader service card Electronics/October 27, 1977

PACKAGING tic PRODUCTION circuitry should appear, as should a lower-cost material with properties approaching Kapton's good high-temper-ature properties and solderability.

Bumped film-carriers

A new development in the film-carrier technology, a carrier with bumps, may allow an even greater use of this method, which is so well suited to automation. Normally a film carrier is either a sprocketed, noncon-ductive film having a copper surface etched with lc interconnections or else a thin all-copper sprocketed strip with lc interconnects etched out. Both systems need special chips to which raised, metallic input/output pads have been added. The bumped chips are then automati-cally gang-bonded to the inner leads of the carrier's lc interconnection patterns.

These two kinds of film-carriers are available from at least four companies: International Micro Industries, Cherry Hill, N. J.; 3M Co.'s Electronic Products divi-sion, St. Paul, Minn.; Fortin Laminating Corp., San Fernando, Calif.; and the Dyna-Tape division of Dyna-Craft Inc., San Fernando, Calif.

In house, lc manufacturers have used the approach to put high-volume small-scale ics on film, adding bumps to, say, transistor-transistor-logic devices destined for plastic dual in-line packages. But few of them have proved willing to supply customers with appropriately bumped chips, and this dearth has slowed the spread of

PROFILE

film-carrier techniques into the hybrid field, where chips on film could be bonded directly to ceramic substrates.

Last year, though, Pactel Corp. of Westlake Village, Calif., changed things somewhat by adding bumps to the carrier, not the chip. But then it did not supply the polyimide tape in anything longer than short strips— fine for a developmental hybrid application but not the reels that a production facility needs for mass-bonding of chips to film. An easing of this situation should occur early next

year, when Dyna-Tape will come out with reels of a metal-bumped film-carrier in 11- and 14-mm widths. Chips mounted on it will not be isolated from each other and will therefore be untestable. So within the year there will be a follow-up product, a 19-mm-wide film-carrier that is testable as well as bumped. Like the first tape, it will be available in reels. The new freedom to bond conventional chips to film

carriers will affect two areas: lc companies at present not supplying chips on film-carrier, and the hybrid field. With the new bumped tape, it will be possible for any lc house to supply large or small quantities of conventional chips either in reels or on strips of tape. The small quantities of chips bonded to tape are especially needed in the thick- and thin-film hybrid field. Hybrid compa-nies, experienced in all types of bonding, will now be able to order their own custom tapes and bond the chips to the film themselves.

The man behind the gun

The gun counts for a lot, if not quite everything, in scanning-electron-beam microscopes and electron-beam lithography systems, and in the newer equipment it is a lanthanum-hexaboride electron gun. Providing much higher brightness, better mechanical stability, and much longer life than previous tungsten units, it was developed in 1967 by Alec N. Broers of IBM's T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, N. Y.

Broers, a native of Australia, is one of the pioneers in electron-beam lithography. As far back as 1963, at Cambridge Instruments in England, he was using an elec-tron beam to expose submicrometer patterns on resists. In 1965 he joined IBM as research staff member, and in 1977 he became an IBM fellow. Throughout that time he has worked on developing precision electron-optical equip-ment and applying it to microscopy and microcircuitry. By the mid 1970s, Broers had succeeded in building a

surface scanning electron microscope around the lanthan-um-hexaboride gun that achieved a resolution of 50

angstroms, as compared with the 150 angstroms occa-sionally achieved by commercial instruments. More recently, a member of his group at IBM, Oliver C. Wells, conceived a new low-loss imaging method, which Broers incorporated into the microscope to improve its resolution to 20 angstroms, corresponding to a smallest resolvable surface feature of 7 angstroms or less. As he improved the resolution of scanning microscopes,

Broers exploited their ever smaller electron spot sizes to fabricate experimental ultraminiature devices. Already in the 1960s, he and members of his group had fabricated transistor structures with 0.5-microrineter line widths and acoustic surface wave transducers with 0.15-gm lines on 0.5-gm centers. More recently, a group reporting to Broers designed and

built the Vector Scan One (VS1) electron-beam litho-graphy system [Electronics, May 12, 1977, p. 89] and with it did the lithography for an 8,000-bit memory chip with 1.25-gm lines.

Last year, Broers went still further, with a new technique that produces 80-angstrom-wide lines and spacing. This technique has great scientific potential, since it may permit the manufacture of the first practical X-ray lenses and of super-lattice- like field-effect-transistor structures. Says Broers: "There is still a lot of growth potential in

scanning-electron-beam lithography. Advanced electron-optical concepts and faster control electronics should increase their throughput. Another important trend will be a major overall reduction in their cost."

139

CONSUMER

DIGITAL TAKEOVER

VTR takes off. Coming onto the market is a

deluge of home video-cassette-tape record-

ers developed by Sony Corp. in the Beta

format, and Victor Co. of Japan in the VHS

format. Shown is JVC's two-hour-play unit.

EXTENDS TO TV AND AUTO CONTROLS by Gerald M. Walker, Consumer Editor

LI At least two microprocessors in every garage and one watching the chicken pot pie: Herbert Hoover would approve of the American home of the next half decade. The nation's first engineer President would also appre-ciate the staggering potential that digital electronics and large-scale integration have for change in the daily life of the consumer.

This year marks the return of video technology into the consumer-products spotlight. Television games are mushrooming, Tv-set tuning is going even more auto-matic (thanks to microprocessors and similar chips), and video-tape recorders for the home are poised for a takeoff. In fact, entertainment-electronics makers are betting that home VTRS will be as big a market sensation as color TVS were, especially when technological advances knock the $ 1,000 price tag down. Technolog-ical spinoffs are the still- infant audio tape and disk players that use pulse-code modulation for ultrahigh-fidelity sound reproduction. Of course, other consumer areas have seen technolog-

ical advances in the past year. Calculators have extended their range in both directions: simple devices that hover around $ 10 in price and expensive units that rival computers. More programmable appliances are certainly on the way, although for the moment the field is the

property of microprocessor-controlled ovens. But per-haps the most significant momentum in the incorpora-tion of digital electronics into consumer products is found in the design of everyone's favorite appliance: the automobile.

Home VTlis gear up

Japan's electronics makers have more than 20 years' experience with video-tape recorders and can point to even longer-term familiarity with audio tape players. So it should come as no surprise that the force behind the development of home v-rRs is from the Far East rather than from America. The two chief formats for home VTRS — the Beta

format pioneered by Sony Corp. and the Video Home System pioneered by Victor Co. of Japan— are undergo-ing intensive development to reduce tape use. Such a reduction gives longer play, which is at the heart of a successful low-cost unit (the devices now cost about twice as much as the TV sets with which they work).

In their standard-play mode, systems using either format will record an hour's program on the equivalent of less than 2 square meters of tape. In their extended-play modes, they require less than 1 m2 of tape. In 1969, the standard Japanese VTR format took 9 m2/hr.


CONSUMER TABLE 1: COMPARING

HOME BETA AND

SYSTEM FORMATS VIDEO

Feature Beta Sony Corp.

VHS Victor Co of Japan

Recording time

Tape speed

Video track width

Relative tape speed

Fm carrier frequency

white peak

synchronization tip

Chroma frequency

Audio track width

monaural

stereophonic

Head cylinder diameter

Azimuth angle

1 hr (2 hr)

4.0 cm/s (2 cm/s)

58.5 pm ( 29.2 pm)

7 m/s

4.8 MHz

3.5 MHz

688 kHz

1 mm

0.35 mm

74.5 mm

7°

2 hr (4 hr>

3.34 cm/s 11.67 cm/s)

58 pm (29 pm)

5.8 m/s

4.4 MHz

3.4 MHz

629 kHz

1 mm

0.35 mm

62.0 mm

6°

I I = long play mode So.ece Matsush ta

The Sony models and the VHS units manufactured by Matsushita for the American market are helical-scan, two-head units that use 1/2-inch tapes. Although the two formats have many similarities, they are not compatible (see Table 1). But the way they both have achieved reduced tape consumption is to narrow the video tracks to slightly under 60 micrometers and to eliminate guard bands between the individual tracks.

However, these developments mean significant pickup of signal from adjacent tracks, and they require measures to eliminate the crosstalk. Separate methods overcome luminance and chroma interference between adjacent tracks. Shifting the azimuth of the two heads in opposite directions from the perpendicular to the track obtains interference rejection between frequency-modulated luminance signals on adjacent tracks. To deal with the chroma problem, the Beta and VHS

recorders use different phase-shift schemes— but they end up with similar results. The phase of the chroma carrier is manipulated during recording and playback so that the two successive horizontal video lines played back on the same track are in phase, but those of comparable lines on adjacent tracks are 180° out of phase. When the successive chroma signals are added together, they cancel the signal from adjacent tracks. The work that is going into perfecting extended-play

versions of VTRS is part of the drive to enhance their commercial potential. Such add-ons as a microphone and a camera will bring those units that can record and play back into the realm of home TV studios. Of course, the VTRS can play back cassettes furnished from other sources— some U. S. entrepreneurs are supplying cas-settes of first- run movies (not always legally).

If digital encoding can bring a television studio into the home, it can also bring in the sound of a concert hall. So reason the Japanese electronics firms that are working on pulse-code modulation for tape and disk audio players. The tape systems make it possible to


record and play back what the Japanese are calling super hi-fi, using a VTR. The disk system operates like an optical video disk in that a laser encodes information on the disk with playback by a laser scan.

PCM for audio buffs

Sony was first to introduce a PCM adapter that converts the video channel of its Betamax VTR to an ultrahigh-fidelity stereo tape deck. The analog-to-digital converter and coder convert incoming audio into a 1.762-megabit-per-second PCM stream on the tape. The decoder and digital-to-analog converter return the stream to original audio, which is fed into an amplifier-speaker system. The system features a frequency response flat within 1 decibel from 2 hertz to 20 kilohertz. Harmonic distortion is less than 0.03% at all frequencies.

High performance such as this is bound to attract audiophiles, once prices of the equipment come down. So a number of other Japanese firms are hard at work developing similar systems. The PCM disk also holds great potential in the stereo-

buff market. So far, Sony, Hitachi, and a group headed by Mitsubishi have all announced development of disk systems. Again, other Japanese firms are also hard at work on it. Since the records will be the key to the success of these players, all the participants have agreed that there should be a standard format. But the audio industry has a sorry history on standardization; to wit,

Programmed. The Texas Instruments model 58 and 59 calculators

have a library of 16 programs for special applications. The program

modules that plug into the back of the calculator may be altered if

necessary by entering changes through the keyboard.

CONSUMER

Spark advance. The Chrysler Corp. lean-burn spark-advance

system, introduced as a two-board analog system, has been

designed into a microprocessor-based digital control. In test runs this

year, it consists of controller, ROM, RAM, and C-MOS I/O chips.

two different long-playing speeds, two incompatible four-channel stereo systems that have not made it, and three different tape formats.

Similarly,' there are two formats vying in PCM disks. The Mitsubishi and the Hitachi types use frequency modulation while Sony has what the firm calls delayed modulation, which permits longer playing time. To avoid dropout problems, these systems are using redundancy of about 50% extra bits to correct for errors. Mitsubishi and Sony use helium lasers in their players, and Hitachi has a space-saving solid-state laser. The disks are quite similar to those used in optical-

laser video players developed by Philips in Europe and MCA in the U. S. They spin at 1,800 revolutions per minute, with pick-up by reflection of a laser beam posi-tioned by three servo systems.

LSI into the driver's seat

Driven by ever-tightening Federal regulations for emission control and fuel economy, automotive elec-tronics has shifted into high gear [Electronics, Sept. 29, p. 83]. The design effort includes lean-burn spark-advance systems, exhaust-gas recirculation, fuel meter-ing or electronically controlled carburetors, and elec-tronic fuel-injection systems.

But there also is gradual replacement by electronics of electromechanical parts such as headlamp controls, windshield-wiper controls, and the like. In addition, elec-tronic ignition systems and voltage regulators are going into second and third Ls' generations, primarily to gain greater integration and thus more compact units. Auto companies around the world are working toward

the day when the various control systems can be combined into a set of microprocessors. A major design hurdle is the need for reliable, low-cost sensors linked to the processors. For instance, the same temperature and speed inputs are used by two or three different engine controls. Table 2 gives a rundown of potential automo-tive applications for electronics.

Perhaps the next major challenge in arranging the microprocessor systems that will control the cars of the 1980s will be multiplexing. Experimental multiplexed systems have been designed with fiber-optic transmission and with conventional three-wire loops. Both types have proved successful, but cost is still a stumbling block.

Even though car designers may combine two or three engine-control microprocessors into just one device, other processors will be added for other functions, such as diagnostics, multiplexing, radio tuners, and so on. So by the mid 1980s, cars could contain from four to eight microcomputers.

TV's digital pace steps up

Automatic color controls were an important feature of last year's TV sets, as was the tripotential gun from Zenith. Refinement of the controls continues, and the tripotential gun seems on its way to more widespread adoption—and to finding competition. But the big news in the coming year will be the development of more versatile digital tuning, often incorporating infrared remote tuners that circumvent the interference problems sometimes encountered with ultrasonic signals. The trend toward adding such features as memory,

push-button channel selection, and digital readouts began a year ago, and it became increasingly clear that microprocessors would be employed to control the variety of jobs that these tuners must perform.

U. S. manufacturers are showing interest in dedicated chips for their tuners rather than general-purpose micro-processors. For instance, sets from GTE-Sylvania's Enter-tainment Products division, Batavia, N. Y. use the General Instrument Omega system: a microprocessor-like n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor control, a nonvolatile electrically alterable read-only memory, an n-mos display driver, and a complementary-mos digital-to-analog converter.

General Electric's Portsmouth, Va., Television Re-ceiver department has a tuner with a similar chip, designed around phase-locked-loop channel-selection. GE also is featuring an infrared remote control— the first among U. S. set makers.

Quasar's Japanese parent, Matsushita, has developed a custom microprocessor for the Franklin Park, Ill., set maker. Besides channel selection, the device controls a frequency search, ramping the tuning voltage to the varactor diodes to sense the presence of a TV signal. A much more elaborate microprocessor application

shows up on a Blaupunkt-Werke GmbH receiver. Besides tuning, the three-chip Fairchild F8 processor turns the set on and off at times programmed into its memory as long as one year in advance. It also uses stored data to


THE TELETYPE MODEL 43: ALL THE TALK YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT IS TRUE.

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Teletype Is a trademark and service mark registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Ofh.e.


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CONSUMER control contrast, brightness, color saturation, and volume for each channel [Electronics, Sept. 2, p. 36]. The F8 in the West German set also implements a

tuning function called step search, in which channels without a transmission signal are skipped during auto-matic tuning. It also turns the set off once a station stops transmitting. In fact, the Blaupunkt set may serve to acquaint its owner with the versatility that program-mable appliances can bring to the home. A year ago, Zenith Radio Corp. of Chicago was

trumpeting its new picture tube with a tripotential gun. While the tube itself elicited no interest from other TV manufacturers, the gun has. With its extended-field lens, the gun improves picture sharpness by reducing spot size 50% compared to that of conventional bipotential guns. Zenith is supplying the gun in its conventional picture tubes to other iv set makers. Now RCA Corp.'s Picture Tube division in Lancaster,

Pa., is bringing out a tube with a bipotential gun that it claims achieves a spot size almost equal to that of the tripotential tube. Improved focus comes from a rede-signed beam-forming optical system and an increase in the voltage on the focusing electrode from 5.5 kilovolts to 8.5 kv. Moreover, the gun does not require the fourth 12-kv focus electrode of the tripotential gun.

More ground rules for games

The increasing rough and tumble of the Tv-game business has induced equipment makers to offer more games and more varied playing features. For the upper price bracket, the answer has been mating a micropro-cessor with digitally encoded tape-cartridge programs. Fairchild's programmable game, using an F8, has been joined by Bally, and Atari to name two. Some of these use custom-designed microprocessors, and others use standard devices such as the CP 1600 and PIC 1650 from General Instrument Corp., Hicksville, N. Y.

However, devices that the game maker can program are not the whole ball game. To cover a wider range of prices and game types, both GI and Texas Instruments Inc. of Dallas have introduced families of standard circuits around which a manufacturer can build a number of different game packages. For example, GI'S new Multigame Basic Circuits let the games maker choose among four basic games chips and then add playing features or other games with additional chips. Similarly Ti's Universal Game Circuits provide various combinations of standard circuits to construct a game tailored to the intended selling price. The intent behind these offerings from both companies is the same: to avoid the high front-end investment and long lead time of dedicated chips while approaching the variety of the programmable units.

One-chip games here

The wave of the future may be signalled by TI'S recent introduction of the first of a family of single-chip games. By next year, the family will include strategy and action games, possibly with color and digital scoring, and all at

TABLE 2: ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS FOR THE AUTOMOBILE

Closed- loop engine control

Dual- displacement engine control

Electronic fuel injectors

Automatic cruise control

Automatic brakes

Automatic diagnostic systems

Exhaust-gas regulation

Radar crash sensors

Vehicle blind-spot detectors

Sleep detectors

Automatic vehicle guidance

Road coefficient detector

Multiplexed wiring

Engine knock- limiting control

Low- tire-pressure indicators

Digital dashboard display

Emergency location transmitter

Alcohol ignition interlock

Source General Mo'ors

highly attractive prices. But the big news in electronic games does not include

TVS at all. It is the move of microprocessors into self-contained games coming out from the traditional toy makers like Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley, and Mattel. In these games, the processor acts as another player and the displays are implemented with light-emitting diodes or liquid crystals. So far, the applications require no new technical developments, but the field is in its infancy and the game makers are deadly serious about their electronic future. The basic hand-held calculator has become so cheap

that it is almost a back-to-school item just like a lunch-box. So development has swung to the programmable calculators at the other end of the spectrum. In fact, as the distinction between key-programmable and card-programmable units has blurred, the offerings are getting closer to becoming miniature computers. For example, TI'S Programmable 59 features plug-in read-only memories. Each 40,000- bit module may contain 5,000 program steps, and once the program is inserted into the calculator, it may be changed from the keyboard. The Rom modules may be used with 3-in.- long magnetic program strips that slide into the calculator to record the revised program.

Another feature of the Programmable 59 that may spark emulation is its ability to repartition program and memory, much like a computer. The 10 mos random-access-memory chips provide a capacity of 960 program steps. The program can be shifted in 80-step blocks, each of which provides 10 more registers, up to a maximum of 100. Thus the calculator, set up for complex operations with few variables that require more program steps than data storage, can be altered to handle short programs with many numbers. Such programs usually require more data storage than they do program steps. The fierce shakeout raging in the American digital-

watch market is taking precedence over development of


CONSUMER

new solid-state circuitry. There is more attention to displays, with liquid crystals staging something of a comeback over LEDS because they can be multiplexed to increase reliability. Electrochromic and electrolumines-cent displays also look like they will be getting attention. On the high end of the market, the calculator watch is showing up from several firms. Hewlett-Packard, for one, has designed its new HP-01 watch for time-oriented calculation.

Since battery life is a sticky point with digital watches, attention is shifting to that component. Solid-electrolyte lithium cells have recently been introduced in watches and calculators. Such cells offer energy densities of 150% to 200% greater than cells with liquid organic electrolyte. For instance, lithium- iodine solid-state batteries have an energy density of 0.6 hour per cubic centimeter at 2.8 volts. Another important feature of the electrolyte is its self-discharge rate: lithium iodine has less than 5% self-discharge in 10 years, which makes it ideal for a digital-watch application.

If there was ever any doubt that the microprocessors

PROFILE

would make it big in the home, the programmable microwave oven overcame it. Microwave units had been around for years, but there was little interest among consumers until programmable ovens came along, featuring ease of use as well as precision timing. Now the name of the game is to expand the program-

mability. Tappan Appliance Corp., Mansfield, Ohio, incorporates the TMS 1100 microprocessor from TI into a range that offers programming of time and tempera-ture cooking— as do other new models— plus a feature that lets the cook program the cooking cycle well in advance by punching in the starting time. What with programmable Tv tuners, programmable

games and programmable ovens, consumers are becom-ing familiar with digital electronics' adeptness at performing familiar tasks and its possibilities for extending digital control into untapped areas. The progress of the home computer probably holds the key to full-scale development of the electronic home, but the thrust to bring interactive information systems into the home is another vital ingredient.

The three who perfected GE's automatic color control Ever since the top management of General Electric Co.'s Television Receiver department in Portsmouth, Va., set out to be among the technological frontrunners, its design staff has pushed unconventional development efforts. Perhaps the most significant is the automatic color control based on the external, vertical-interval-reference signal [Electronics, March 31, p. 25]. This receiver feature, which takes advantage of a broadcast industry standard

designed to provide uniform color transmission from one channel to another, posed several knotty problems for three GE engineers identified with the project. One of the early problems was the standard itself. "We

wanted a couple of changes in the standard to make it more convenient to use in the receiver," says Michael Palladino, manager of advanced circuitry and display engineering ( center in photograph). However, it was so far along it could not be changed. So, notes Palladino, a member of the Electronics Industry Association committee responsible for drawing up the standard, "we had to find a way to use the signal as is."

Palladino, 51, who received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington in 1951, conducted the feasibility study for incorporation of the VIR feature into GE's color sets. Just as he likes to do his own auto-mechanic work, he did the circuit develop-ment and breadboard work on the prototype system. The GE design team soon faced another headache. " In

the first experimental transmissions by the networks, we very seldom had VIR signals available to us. That made it tough to evaluate the receiver's operating characteris-tics," notes the 25-year veteran of the TV department. As the broadcasters got their act together and as more

of them transmitted the VIR signal, GE began converting its concept into a practical, cost-effective module. That became the responsibility of Sanjar Ghaem ( left), manager of the color TV electrical design engineering group. The 41-year-old Iranian received his BSEE in 1960 from

Chicago Technical College. Although he has 13 U. S. patents in the TV field, the 17-year GE veteran's role was to coordinate VIR activities, " rather than actually contrib-uting to the solution of any problems," he says.

Perhaps the biggest headache in the program, notes VIR project leader Howard Holshouser ( right), was designing a system immune to noise. Holshouser, 35, and holder of a BSEE degree from North Carolina State Univer-sity in 1967, did the nuts-and- bolts work to get the system in form for production.

However, notes the 10-year GE designer, "we had to deal with white noise, Gaussian noise, and pulse noise generated by passing cars," among other signals that look just like the VIR signal. To make the technique work in that environment, he derived a solution for which a patent application has been filed. "We came up with a group of different circuits that collectively performed the function, but individually weren't worth a dime," says the holder of two other patents.


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CHRONOLOGY

October 1976 • Lithic Systems Inc. introduces first single silicon chip housing all the active functions needed for an a-m transceiver. Oct. 14, p. 32

• Interactive fiber-optic CATV network to begin two-way tests with 300 subscribers near Osaka, Japan. Oct. 14, p. 39

• Better than 10% efficiency is reached with 10- by- 10-cm solar cells developed by Germany's AEG-Telefunken for terrestrial applications. Oct. 14, p. 55

• Siemens of West Germany announces the model 3352 electrophotographic laser printer, which scans a maximum of 70,000 characters per second Oct. 28, p. 64

November 1976 • Electro-optic crystal modulator developed by Sperry Rand allows direct modulation of light beam, permitting switching and multiplexing of optical bit streams. Nov. 11, p. 32

• I2L chip, providing PLL frequency synthesizer for CB radio, developed by Motorola in Japan. Nov. 11, p. 53

• IBM announces its entry into the minicomputer market with the Series/ 1. Nov. 25, p. 41

• Solar Technology International uses thick-film screened-on inks to put contacts on silicon solar cells. Nov. 25, p. 53

• The industry's first single 5-V ultraviolet-light-erasable PROM technology is developed by Intel for 8-bit single-chip microcomputer (8748) and stand-alone 16-k erasable PROM (2716). Nov. 25, p. 99

December 1976

January 1977

• U. S. National Bureau of Standards decides to adopt the encryption algorithm proposed by IBM. Dec.23, p. 42

• Federal Communications Commission approves the use of antennas 4.5 m in diameter for receive-only CATV earth stations. Jan. 6, p. 33

• Motorola wins contract to supply General Motors with microcomputer chips for various control functions in GM's cars over the next few years. Jan. 20, p. 31

February 1977 • Sperry Univac introduces its first small business system, the BC/7. Feb. 3, p. 35

• Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) writes a standard for a family of 50-mil-spaced LSI chip carriers and sockets for pc board use, allowing interchangeability of five different types of chip carriers. Feb. 3, p. 44

• Bell Laboratories gives first bubble memory a trial in a Michigan Bell Telephone Company switching office. Feb. 17, p. 38

• Hewlett-Packard discloses a 16-bit microprocessor chip built with C-MOS-on-sapphire technol-ogy, for high-performance control applications. Feb. 17, p. 82

March 1977 • Industry's first high-performance 5-V MOS processes emerge from the labs of Intel and American Microsystems. Intel ( H-MOS) and AMI (V-MOS) both promise 1-k and 4-k static RAMs that rival bipolar performance (access times below 50 ns) and 65-k ROMs with speeds under 200 ns. March 3, p. 32

• A shapable magnetic shielding material, Metshield, made of a soft-magnetic glass, is announced by Allied Chemical Metglas Products. March 3, p. 138

• FCC approves 800-MHz cellular mobile radio-telephone system proposed by Illinois Bell Telephone for Chicago test. March 17, p. 32

• West German research institute invents the fluorescence-activated display, FLAD, which exhibits the same low power dissipation as the LCD but yields much higher light intensity. March 17, p. 55

• With its high-performance linear bipolar process, Precision Monolithics makes the first 12-bit d-a converter in monolithic form. March 17, p. 130


CHRONOLOGY Significant advances in electronics technology reported over the past year in Electronics

April 1977 • IBM announces the System/34 business computer. April 28, p. 30

• A high-speed digital facsimile machine produced by 3M Co. sends a 300-word letter in about 20 s when transmitted at the unit's top speed of 9,600 b/s. April 28, p. 36

May 1977

June 1977

July 1977

• Texas Instruments introduces first microprocessor-based 40-channel combination a-m and single-sideband CB radios. May 12, p. 31

• Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken develops a reduction-projection mask aligner with an alignment accuracy of 0.1 gm. May 12, p. 32

• For the first time, Burr-Brown builds complete microprocessor-compatible analog I/O systems as thick-film hybrids in IC-compatible packages. May 26, p. 106

• Xerox Corp. introduces the 9700 electrophotographic nonimpact printing system, which runs at 21,000 lines per minute. June 9, p. 26

• Researchers at Japan's Cooperative Laboratory develop an electron-beam lithography system that completes a pattern directly on a wafer in half the time taken by competitive equipment. June 9, p. 33

• First 16- bit microcomputer chip,from Texas Instruments, the 9940, is industry's most powerful single-chip controller. It has 128 bytes of RAM and 2,049 bytes of ROM, can address 32 bits of I/O, and handles 16- bit words. June 23, p. 118

• Using I2L, Analog Devices for the first time puts a self-contained microprocessor-compatible 10-bit a-d converter on a single chip. July 7, p. 25

• Bell Labs scientists report on GaAs solid-state lasers with projected lifetimes of 1 million hours— 100 years of operation. July 7, p. 26

• Motorola's Government Electronics division introduces modules and boards that implement the NBS encryption algorithm. July 7, p. 40

• Hewlett-Packard introduces first instrument using C-MOS-on-sapphire technology, the 2240A measurement and control unit. July 7, p. 128

• The first digital switch, built by Stromberg-Carlson, for small central telephone offices is cut over in Georgia. July 21, p. 25

• IBM develops an integrated package containing all the electro-optical elements of a fiber-optic transmitter. July 21, p. 35

August 1977 • First commercial bubble system for mini-floppy replacements in microcomputer systems is introduced by Texas Instruments. System includes 92-k memory chips and LSI peripherals for building semiconductor versions of mini-floppy disks. Aug. 4, p. 81

• With thin-film hybrid technology, Datel shrinks an entire microprocessor-compatible, 16-channel, 12-bit data-acquisition system into a single IC-compatible package. Aug. 18, p. 35

• Motorola wins contract to supply Ford Motor Company with a custom microcomputer for -fuel and emission control on 1980 cars. Aug. 18, p. 42

September 1977 • Industry reaches the 65-k level in ROM chips as three suppliers introduce devices: American Microsystems' ROM is the first to use V-MOS technology; Mostek and National Semiconductor use silicon-gate processes. All boast access time below 300 ns. Sept. 1, p. 26

• From National Semiconductor comes the industry's first monolithic data-acquisition system. The ADC 0816 has an 8- bit a-d converter, 16-channel multiplexer, input-address latches, and buffered three-state output latches. Sept. 1, p. 34

• First of the sub-100-ns 4-k static memories built with Japanese-developed D-MOS technology emerges to challenge U. S. dominance in market. Sept. 15, p. 39

• Philips develops resistless, additive pc process for fine:line printed wiring. Sept. 15, p. 42


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New products

Board has analog and digital outputs Interface card for SBC-80-type systems provides four digital outputs

and choice of two or four analog outputs for minimum system cost

by Mike Riezenman, New Products Editor

One of the ways in which money is sometimes wasted in computer-controlled systems is in the use of expensive digital-to-analog convert-ers to perform simple digital tasks like actuating relays or turning on indicator lamps. The problem has been that, until now, output boards for most microcomputers have pro-vided either all analog or all digital outputs, but not both. If you needed lots of each kind, this was fine. But the small-system designer who needed two or three digital outputs and one or two analog outputs had to buy an analog board and use a few of its high-resolution d-a converters as simple logic drivers.

For users of Intel SBC-80 series single-board microcomputers, the RTI-1201 real-time interface board solves this problem by providing a mixture of outputs on a single card. Furthermore, most of its more costly features are offered as options, so

the user can carefully select only those that he really needs.

Basically the board is an eight-channel unit with four software-controlled logic drivers and either two or four 12-bit d-a converters. If desired, the converters can be pro-vided with voltage-to-current con-verters that produce 4-to-20-mil-liampere current-loop outputs. The four digital logic drivers are

open-collector outputs rated for 30-volt operation and each is capable of sinking a continuous current of 300 milliamperes. The analog outputs have five ranges that can be selected by the user by means of wire-wrap-pable jumpers: 0 to 5 v, 0 to 10 v, ± 2.5 v, ± 5 v, and ± 10 v. Easy to use. The RTI-1201 has

many features and capabilities that reduce the effort required to inter-face a microcomputer with the real world. Among the features included are d-a converter readback, memory

mapping, and card selection. D-a converter readback, which is:

simply the capability for reading back the converter's input data, can be an important convenience since it eliminates the need for scratchpad memory or software overhead to store data written into the convert-ers. Any time the data is needed it is available at the converters. Memory mapping allows the RTI-

1201 to interface with the micro-computer as a 1,024-byte block of memory. This lets the system design-er take advantage of all of the 8080 memory reference instructions. The card-select capability allows

as many as 16 RTI-1201s to share the same block of memory locations. Analogous in some ways to memory paging, this feature is particularly useful when it is desirable to use the same subroutines with more than one RTI-1201.

Power. The RTI-1201 must be powered by a ± 15-v source. If none is available, a dc-to-dc converter can be provided to allow the board to run off the microcomputer's 5-v supply. In small quantities, the converter adds $75 to the price of the board.

Without the dc-to-dc converter, in quantities of one to nine, prices for the RTI-1201 range from $298 for the basic four-driver, two-converter configuration to $579 for a board with four drivers, four d-a convert-ers, and four voltage-to-current con-verters. Other standard configura-tions include four drivers, two d-a converters, and two v-i converters for $398 and four drivers and four d-a converters for $379. Analog Devices Inc., P. O. Box 280,

Norwood, Mass. 02062. Phone Fred Pouliot

at (617) 329-4700 [338]


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New products

Semiconductors

Rectifiers have linear drops

10-ampere ion-implanted

diodes have reverse-recovery

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Designed for multiple-output switch-ing power supplies, two 10-ampere rectifiers offer linear forward-volt-age-drop characteristics that, in some cases, eliminate the require-ment for regulating circuits. In fact, Solid State Devices Inc., manufac-turer of the rectifiers, guarantees these forward- voltage drops throughout the 1-to- 10-ampere oper-ating range of the rectifiers. Compared with Schottky diodes

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8.0 -

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• Wide 70dB dynamic range even with —30dBm input signal

• Covers 100kHz-1700MHz frequency range

• Compact construction for space-saving installation

• Virtually maintenance-free

• CRT: Normal persistence type P7 phosphor (MS62A/A3) and half-tone storage type (MS62B/B3)

• The field strength direct reading dial is attached to the MS62A3/B3, so the field strength can be measured in conjunction with the calibrated antenna (option) by the unit of dB/m on the level reference dials of the MS62A3/B3.

• II ill Ill e

•WWII

The Tracking Generatcr MH628A is used for a wide

band swept frequency measurements

Frequency range 100kHz to 1700MHz

Output level -60 to CdBm/50,2. flatness - less than

1dB from 100kHz to 17t)OM Hz

ANRITSU ANRITSU ELECTRIC CO., LTD. MEASURING INSTRUMENTS DIV SION SALES DEPARTMENT:

12-20. Minamiazabu 4-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106. JAPAN Phone (03)446-1111/Telex 0-242-2353

Cable ANRITDENKI TOKYO

• U.S.A. TAU-TRON INC Tel (617) 667-3874 • West Germany Knott Elektronik .3mbH Te' (08178) 4085 • England Dymar Electronics Limited Tel Watford 37321 • France Takelec Airtronic Tel ( 1)346-96-48 • Italy Vianello S p A Te (02) 54 40 41 • Holland C N Rood B V Tel 070-99 63 60 • Sweden Teleinstrument AB Tel 08-38 03 70 • Singapore

O'Connor 's (Pte) Ltd Tel 637944 • Australia NEC Australia Pty Ltd Tel Melbourne 560-5233 • Malaysia O'Connor's (Malaysia) SDN BHD Tel 51563/5 • Brasil Anntsu Eletránza Comércb. Ltda Tel Rio 221-6086

New products

control over forward-voltage charac-teristics while decreasing switching time is use of the company's ion implantation process, Applebaum says. Conducted in a high-vacuum chamber using a solid ion source, the implantation technique allows ac-curate impurity placement 200 to 300 angstroms below the epitaxial surface with virtually no lateral migration, he says.

Electrically identical, the two rec-tifiers are packaged in different cases. The SER 1061 is housed in a TO-66 package while the S model comes in a D-14 stud-mounted pack-age. In 100-unit quantities, they are priced from $3.40 to $4, depending upon case style and forward-voltage drop. Delivery is from stock to 30 days.

Solid State Devices Inc., 14830 Valley

View Ave., La Mirada, Calif. 90630. Phone

(213) 921-9660 [411)

C-MOS chip is almost a

complete a-d converter

The model ADD3501 (also known as the MM74C935-1) one-chip con-verter device needs only an external voltage reference and a few non-precision passive components to form a complete analog-to-digital converter. Add digit drivers and a light-emitting-diode display, and the unit becomes a 31/2-digit panel meter that will operate from a single 5-volt dc supply. The c-mos circuit uses an inte-

grating pulse-modulation conversion scheme to provide high noise im-munity at low cost. Maximum error is 0.05% of full scale + 0, — 1 count over the temperature range from 0° to 70°C. The ADD3501 has a multi-


Berg Minisert Sockets display" high reliability"

on Tektronix Oscilloscopes The Berg Minisert' is a miniature,

low-profile P.C. socket which allows .400"-tight board-to-board spacing. The Minisert provides positive, functional reliability over repeated insertion/withdrawal cycling; its elastomeric seal keeps out contaminants.

Tektronix likes the repeated pluggability the Minisert socket affords in using transistors, LED's, lamps, IC's and other components. Tektronix has found it can rely on Berg Electronics . . . to supply the product and the application machines

that precisely meet its interconnection needs. Berg is experienced. We read

interconnection needs like Tektronix reads waveforms. We have the products, the background and the back-up to do the job. Your job. Let's work on it, together. Berg Electronics, Division, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., New Cumberland, Pa. 17070— Phone (717) 938-6711.

4u,p0e) BERG ELECTRONICS Circle 157 on reader service card

We serve special interests—yours!

LOW FREQUENCY QUARTZ CRYSTALS

We have 1KHz to 1MHz quartz crystals for your

low-'requency applications. McCoy's quartz crys-tals feature technology in controlling TC and

motional parameters, performance with a five to

six week lead time, and quality design and process controls. Our outstanding line of low-frequency

quaitz crystals includes: JT, NT,5°XF, 5°X, MT, GT,

BD, DT, CT, and SL.

WhIlcCIDY ELECTRONICS COMPANY a subsidiary of OAK IstOmaries

MT /ICILY SPRINGS. PA 17065 • TEL 717 486 3411 • TWO 510 650 2548


F.W.Bell sells more gaussmeters than all other manufacturers combined! Why ?

If magnetics is your field. con-sult with Bell. the gaussmeter people. They can match a unit to your specific application.

Request further information today

A Subsidiary of The Arnold Engineering Company

it could be because the Bell line includes a gaussmeter for every application.

It could be because Bell's price is highly competitive and Bell units offer more features dollar-for-dollar.

It could be all these reasons, plus Bell's intrinsic quality and design integrity.

ELL INC. 4949 Freeway Center East Col.rrnbus Oh.° 43229 Phone ( 614) 888-7501 TW.< 810 337 2851

New products

plexed seven-segment output capable of delivering 40 milliamperes of peak output current per segment. Other features include automatic polarity detection and indication, overflow indication including polarity, and a maximum reading rate of 10 conver-sions per second. The converter is housed in a 28-pin dual in-line package and has a 100-piece price of $9.95 (plastic package) or $ 10.95 (ceramic package). National Semiconductor Corp., 2900 Semi-

conductor Dr., Santa Clara, Calif. 95051.

Phone Jerry Zis at (408) 737-5225 [414]

Replacement op amp needs

no compensating capacitor

Designed as a replacement for the popular LM108/308 operational amplifiers, the OP- 12 is an inter-nally compensated unit that replaces both the op amp and an external 30-picofarad capacitor. Since elimina-tion of this capacitor is particularly important in hybrid-circuit applica-tions, the OP- 12 is offered in both packaged and chip forms. A com-panion unit, the OP-08, is similar to the OP- 12 except that it requires external compensation. Key specifications of the top-of-

the- line OP-12AJ and OP-08AJ include a maximum room-tempera-ture input offset voltage of 150 microvolts, a maximum worst-tem-perature input offset voltage of 350 ¡tv, a maximum offset-voltage temperature coefficient of 2.5 µv/°C, and a minimum open-loop gain of 40,000 at a load resistance of 5 kilohms. These units operate from —55°C to 125°C and sell for $20 each in hundreds. Op amps that have relaxed specifications over the same temperature range go for as little as $6.50 each, while units that operate from ,0° to 70°C range from $6 each to as little as $2.50 in the same 100-to-999 quantities.

Uncased chips, which are avail-able only from the factory, have hundred-piece prices from $ 1.50 to $6.70 each. Precision Monolithics Inc., 1500 Space Park

Dr., Santa Clara, Calif. 95050. Phone Donn


Fn 1M

Bio-Mechanical Interface to the Digital World

P/Rel .. . Standard Grigsby's programmable rotary encoded logic switch or control is fully programmable to any code.

When you need design flexibility, Standard Grigsby's P/Rel will do the job. No other programmable rotary switch offers the design engineer as much versatility, with as low a cost, as the PIRel switch.

You can use the P/Rel as a detented switch for feeding encoded information direct to your digital logic circuit. Or, use it without a detent, as a "digital pot," and eliminate the cost of expensive A-D conversion.

Find out how your product can use the standard or miniature P/Rel. Send for Free literature.

standard grigsby. inc. 920 Rathbone Avenue, Aurora, II. 60507 Phone: ( 312) 844-4300

IN EUROPE: W. Gunther GMBH, Virnsberger Strasse 51, D 85 Nurnberg 1, West Germany Phone: 0911/65521


How long should a fan last? Four hundred hours? Six months? Six years? As long, Rotron says, as the equipment it was designed to serve.

That means one installation cost instead of many. Minimum extra parts inventory. Reduced possibility of installation mishaps. less reliance on widely dispersed and less skilled personnel. It means less cost over the entire life cycle.

It means more rugged, more reliable airmovers. greater dependability for the equipment involved.

See why Rotron--with a long history of designing and building precision airmovers for the mos.. demanding needs--welcomes the test of life cycle costing. Call or write for our new Custom Division Catalog.

ROTRON MCORPORATED

ROTRON INC.

Woodstock N Y 12498 914 • 679-2401 TWX 510-247-9033 Gedee G,ove Ce 92641 • 714.898 •649 • Roc, 13 V 8•904 Nee,e,e., Te ,07618 193 11 Tele. NL 54074

New products

Soderquist at (408) 246-9222, Ext. 183. For

information on the packaged devices, circle

reader service number 415; for the chips,

circle number 416.

8,192-bit PROM

runs fast and cool

An 8,1092- bit field-programmable read-only memory from Fujitsu combines high speed with low power consumption. The MB 7055/7060 PROM has a maximum chip-enable time of 150 nanoseconds (60 ns typi-cal) and a maximum access time of 250 ns ( 150 ns typical). It uses a single 5-volt power supply from which it draws only 0.04 milliwatt per bit for a total power consump-tion of less than 330 mw. The three-state 7055 and the open-collector 7060 are available immediately in sample quantities. Volume deliveries are scheduled for the end of the year. Fujitsu America Ltd., 2945 Oakmead Village

Court, Santa Clara, Calif. 95051. Phone Bob

Freischlag at (408) 985-2300 [413]

Monolithic filter offers

voltage control

The model SSM 2040 voltage-controlled filter is a monolithic four-section device that can be used to synthesize almost any type of active filter — low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, notch and all-pass. The unit operates in the audio range and is primarily intended for use in elec-tronic musical instruments. Samples are available at $ 10 each. Solid State Music, 2102A Walsh Ave., Santa

Clara, Calif. 95050. Phone John Burgoon at

(408) 246-2707 [418]

2131


GRAPHICS AND PERSONAL COMPUTING TEKTRONIX 4051

"Until now, we'd been mistaking access to processing for access to answers:

Problem: It takes more than a desktop processor to organize output into its simplest, most usable form. A personal computer can shave timeshare expenses, but do nothing about trimming the fat off alphanumeric answers. You can give up the power of a mainframe without the promise of more intelligent, instantly

visible data.

Solution: Tektronix' 4051 Graphic System. The one desktop unit that shapes information into usable graphics.

Tektronix .1,11,1111I 11111,1 I


Frorn interfaces and firmware to hard

copy units, data storage devices, printers, plotters, graphic tablets and

proven software, Tektronix provides

plug in capability to customize the

4051 to your special needs.

A graphics answer is the most

concise of all possible solu-tions. The 4051 can eliminate the hand-plotting and mental gymnastics that users of alpha-numeric-only systems take for granted. It lets you instantly unscramble data and inter-actively experiment with graphs.

charts, maps and models. With exceptional simplicity. With

almost the speed of thought. You command up to

32K of off-line processing power. With a graphically beefed-up BASIC language. With complete editing and ver-satile graphic-oriented software.

You can tackle big pro-grams on-line in any language,

OEM prices available

Copyright (rj 1977, Tektronix

All rights reserved

store data on built-in mag tape, and generate graphic reports— all at your own pate.

The 4051: Its Graphics keep working when other systems quit. Yet it can pay for itself in less than a year in timeshare savings alone. Call your local Tektronix Sales Engineer, or write:

Tektronix, Inc. Information Display Group

17.0. Box 500 Beaverton, OR 97077

Tektronix Datatek N.V.

PO. Box 159 Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands

Get the picture. Get straight to the point.

• ..;:,

11/15k.4.,

• re

Ammeamm

ç'w4iNare' *saèi

Digital announces a PDP-8 with

an enormous memory. Something big has just

happened to the world's most famous small computer. In fact, something enormous.

Digital has just put 128K of memory into the PDP-8.

This act is brought to you by a powerful new memory management option called KT8-A. And by two new MOS memory modules that fit large amounts of memory into small amounts of space. Simply by adding these 16K or 32K mod-ules in whatever combination you choose, you now expand your PDP-8/A into something bigger. What's even better, you can mix MOS and core. And that means you can protect your program in non-volatile core while you expand your data base in MOS.

And thanks to the KT8-A all this memory is under new man-agement. Not only does the KT8-A let you address up to 128K words of memory, but it also offers you memory reloca-tion and memory protection, while asking little in operating system overhead so you get faster system performance.

What's the cost of these enormous advancements? That's the next attraction.

The new PDP-8A MOS memory models are available at Company prices that are as crowd pleasing

Address as their performance. Three models to choose from — the

8A205 with 16K, the 8A425 with 64K and the top of the line 8A625 with 128K.

They're the new big-memory Eights from Digital. Step right up.

Large memories aren't our only new trick.

New hardware and soft-ware improvements are also in the PDP-8 spotlight.

The VK8-A is a new low cost PDP-8A option that pro-vides high quality video output plus keyboard and printer inter-faces. Video character genera-tion uses a super-sharp 9x9 dot matrix for high resolution on single or multiple CRT monitors up to one thousand feet away.

Also new for PDP-8 users is MACREL/LINKER— a sophis-ticated assembler with MACRO facilities that lets you implement, expand and update your system faster while reducing software development time.

And last but not least there's DECNET 8 — a series of software protocols that let you

form your own PDP-8 network. The PDP-8. Bigger.

Smaller. And better than ever. A short while ago, we made

big news with DECstation 78. A low-end system that set new highs fcr ease of use and simplicity.

Now we're expanding the PDP-8 family up, as well as down, and that means new opportunities for OEMs and end-users alike. Look into what's happening with PDP-8s. Call your nearest Digital sales office today.

Or send the coupon to PDP-8 Marketing Communi-cations, Digital Equipment Corporation, 129 Parker Street, PK3-1/M34, Maynard, Massachu-setts 01754. European headquar-ters: 12, ay. des Morgines, 1213 Petit-Lancy/Geneva. In Canada: Digital Equipment of Canada, Ltd.

d ITDP-8 Marketing Communications Digital Equipment Corporation, 129 Parker Street, PK3-1/M34, Maynard, MA 01754 Please send additional information about tïe PDP-8 family.

Name Title

City State Zip

Phone OEM End-User

Cplication E102L71

Circle 163 or reader service card

WAFERTRAC. STILL STEAMING AHEAD!

Since GCA introduced the revolutionary VVAFERTRAC Tm a few months ago—the completely automatic, microprocessor-controlled wafer processing system, 9 out of 10 of the world's largest manu-facturers of semiconductors have purchased their VVAFERTRAC systems. Why?

VVAFERTRAC provides higher yields in less facility space.

VVAFERTRAC improves up-time and relia-bility to higher levels than ever before possible.

VVAFERTRAC eliminates traditional 25-wafer group processing limits.

VVAFERTRAC lets you design your own specific configuration, according to your firm's unique requirements.

VVAFERTRAC. The first practical application of the micropro-cessor to semi-conductor pro-cessing, requir-ing only a single person in your processing loop ...and then only to load and unload carriers.

Don't be the last to cet on board. VVAFERTRAC's still steaming ahead ... destination: greater profits!

GOA, SUNNYVALE DIVISION OSA PART OF THE GCA/IC SYSTEMS GROUP 1050 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94068 TWX: 910-339-9211 (408) 732-5330


New products

Data Handling

Graphics board is versatile

Changing the plug-in

memories on this peripheral

changes its resolution

The MTX-512 family of one-card graphics controllers comprises units that can be easily programmed to provide dot matrixes with four different resolutions: 256-by-256, 256-by-512, 512-by-512, and 256-by- 1,024 points. The last extends nearly to the limit of television scan monitors.

Designed to exploit the interchan-geability of 16-pin dynamic random-access memories of different capaci-ties, the controllers are basically interface devices between minicom-puters or microcomputers and Tv

monitors. By loading them with the right size RAMS (4,096-bit, 8,192-bit, or 16,384-bit) plus a couple of control programmable read-only memories, the manufacturer pro-vides the user with the resolution he needs at a price that reflects the

volume production of a single stan-dard product. The prices of the cards vary only because of differences in the prices of the RAMS that go into them.

In addition to variable resolution, controllers in the MTX-512 family offer several other important fea-tures. They can be stacked and their outputs combined to obtain color or gray-scale images. They can be synchronized to an external gener-ator for broadcast applications. And they use a simple XY addressing scheme to minimize the address space in the host computer dedicated to the graphics function.

Simple, yet powerful, the address-ing scheme handles each dot individ-ually. Two directly addressable re-gisters are incorporated for selecting a given dot. This allows two comput-er memory locations to address up to 262,000 bits of refresh memory. The entire refresh memory can be erased at once, if desired. And the host computer can read its contents at any time. The first two cards in the MTX-

512 family are designed for Digital Equipment Corp.'s PDP-11 Unibus and LSI-11 bus structures. Both buses use the powerful 16-bit PDP-11 instruction set. This eases oper-ator manipulation of the high-resolu-tion display. The cards are supplied with

Grayhill coded output fwitch moduler

/tack up!

new performance standards...

1,500,000 cycles with less than 10 milliseconds bounce

II Self-generated logic...7 wire coding capability

MICan be stacked in any array

• Telephone art ay will provide stan-dard frequency selection

This " second generation - of low-profile Grayhill pc mountable push-button switch modules passes exact-ing test for life and for bounce. Choose 6-, 3-, 2- and 1-button hori-zontal or vertical modules, to array in any format, including telephone key set, while maintaining constant cen-ter-to-center spacing! Circuitry avati-able as SPST through 4 PST. normally open, or the poles can be internally shorted so several terminals connect when button is actuated. Choice of colors, with hot stamped or molded-in legends. For more information on these Series 82 modules, consult EEM or ask Grayhig, for engineering data.

561 Hingrnve AvenJe • LaGrange. Illinois 60525 13124 354-1040


New products

MORT §NORDT§ New reinforced Cho-Therm-R is the tough, conformable, greaseless way to marry power devices to heat sinks.

SHARPED6E

Cho-Therm-R virtually eliminates the shorting caused when sharp edges slice through less tough materials.

3 new grades match the price/per-formance specs of mica, polyimides and Be0 plus end your grease caused assembly and QC problems.

Write or call for complete details.

CHO-77/EPAI-g

77 Dragon Court Woburn, MA 01801 (617) 935-4850

enough information for the user to adapt them for use with other computers using a standard 16-bit parallel input/output port. Initial prices for the cards are as follows: $895 for the 256 by 256; $ 1,095 for the 256 by 512; $ 1,390 for the remaining two. Matrox Electronic Systems, P.O. Box 56,

Ahuntsic Stn., Montreal, Que. H3L 3N5,

Canada. Phone (514) 481-6838 [361]

Dot-matrix impact printer

sells for $745

Priced at only $745 in singles, a dot-matrix impact printer for both mini-computer and microcomputer sys-tems is capable of banging out up to 120 characters per second with up to 132 characters per line. The unit is a complete system, ready to plug in and operate. It features an RS-232

and current-loop serial interface, enhanced-mode (double-width) characters, and selectable line and character sizes. Integral Data Systems Inc., 5 Bridge St.,

Watertown, Mass. 02172. Phone (617) 926-

1011 [365)

Core memories fit

DEC minicomputers

Three models of the ARM- 1170 core memory are totally transparent al-ternatives to, or replacements for, the MJII and MKII memories used in the PDP-11/70 computers made by Digital Equipment Corp. Accord-ing to the manufacturer, their adop-tion can about halve the cost of an


Presenting our better-mouse-trap line.

No frills at all. When you cut price without cutting quality, soon

no one thinks of it as a cut price. That's where our Norsman line of VV:re-Wrap'" P/C connectors is headed. Here's why:

The insulator — it's tough, resilient, non-conduc-tive— everything you need in a Wire-VVrap body. And it's made out of low cost phenolic, not tne higher cost diallyl phthalate ( if you need to meet mFI specs, we have that in one of our other lines).

Contacts are semi-bellows and goId-plated -- but

.Wire-Wrap — registered tradema-k of Gardner- Denver Company

plated with our unique AuTac (TM) process. You get .000050" gold plate all along the mating sur-aces for a sure, gouge-proof pop-off-proof contact — but that's it. No wasted gold.

And you can find the size you need — Norsman is a full line from 15/30 to 50/100 contacts, in either . 100 or . 125 contact centers.

The whole Norsman idea is as simple as it is old. keep performance up and cost down. It works.

Send for details. We haven't told you everything.

Tell me everything. El Send me detailed literature.

Name

Company

Address

City

Title

Telephone

State Zip

Vikin CONNECTORS

Viking Industries. Inc./2100". Klordhoff St./Chatsworth, Calif. 91311/(213) 341-4330


I I mv

11-11-1 I I 1 -11:1. -I PSI

1111-1 1-1 - 11:11_1.1_1 C

1 "01 I. :11_11:1 AMPS

-1 1-1 1-1 LI. 1_1 OZ/SEC

11-1 1_ -11_1. :I ACV

I -11-1 I 11- 1 :1 :1. -1 11 GPM

11-11-11 1 1-+1110 -I. ZIT

11- -In Zi n_i. :1 RPM

I -11-1 I :11_1 :I LE3S

United Systems' Indicators Will: • MEASURE voltage and current; ac, true rms or dc.

• CONVERT the output of any transducer/transmitter to dis-play in engineering units.

• DISPLAY temperature (C or F) directly from thermocouple, RTD, or thermistor sensors.

• INTERFACE readily into your system by optional " single line enable" parallel BCD output.

• INDICATE when a predetermined limit is exceeded, through relay closure or logic level output from optional internal comparator alarm.

And with United Systems' exclusive adaptors these indi-cators change, in the field, to perform any measurement listed above and more!

For additional information contact your United Systems Rep-resentative or call the factory (513) 254-6251.

UnITED SYSTEMS CORPORAT1011

Diem 918 Woodley Road Dayton Ohlo 45403 ,513) 254-6251 TVVX 1810) 459-1728

United Systems Corp: Precision measurements to count on

LHC "Information only" circle 145 RHC "Demonstration only" circle 168

168

New products

mnintur 1 - mpitunr, -

equivalent amount of DEC memory. The units are available in increments of 65,536 16-bit words up to a maximum of 2,048 kilowords. Two-and four-way interleaving are possi-ble for enhanced throughput. With four-way interleaving, the effective cycle time is 345 nanoseconds.

Prices vary with model and capac-ity: the Mod A sells for $43,205 with 512 kilowords, the Mod B is priced at $ 12,875 for 128 kilowords, and the Mod C gives 256 kilowords for $23,865. All three units are available for immediate delivery. Ampex Corp., 200 N. Nash St., El Segundo,

Calif. 90245. Phone Clyde Cornwell at (213)

640-0150 [364]

Static-RAM system can be

organized in many ways

The in-7000 static semiconductor memory system offers users a wide range of memory capacities and organizations. It can provide word sizes from 6 to 96 bits and capacities of 16 to 256 kilowords. The system uses a single 5-volt dc power supply and can be furnished as either a board or as a chassis. The basic board has a capacity of

16,384 words of up to 24 bits and,


Have it your way.

Bit by bit our Standard Modular Memory lets you make every word count.

The Standard. 768K x 16 in one 51/4 x 19 inch chassis. Need more?

You can address up to eight of our MSC 2601 Standard Modular Memory units for up to 6144K x 16.

Want it your way? Our field- proven MSC 2601 uses dynamic 16K RAM elements. You can organize each card 16K x 1 to 64K x 9. Multiple cards give you almost any word and bit size you want. Any way you like it.

Up to 14,155,776 bits in one MSC 2601.

111111111111111111181M 111111111111MINIM HI 111,111011111111MMIMill

When you like it. Access time up to 350 nsec. Cycle time as fast as 450 nsec. Together in the rack. RETMA rackmountable or freestanding. Self-contained with power supplies and forced air cooling. Battery backup available, too, for nonvolatile storage.

And for another way. If you want 4K RAM our static or dynamic versions will let you have your way with up to 192K words. Our way.

We use fewer components and low power for high reliability. Multiple source, full specification components tested, assembled and then systems tested under worst case operating conditions.

The MSC 2601, Standard Modular Memory... We set the standard.

Vono it r\lc ÍLIt2TI corp 14 Inverness Drive East Englewood, CO 80110 303/770-7400 () 1977 Monolithic Systems Corp.

MSC - 2601


Now from Digital-a low-cost paper tape reader.

The PRS01, Digital's new low-cost, portable paper tape reader for high performance terminals.

Now you can easily load your programs, boot-straps and diagnostics into any make or model of computer or terminal you currently own through an approved 20 mA interface. Available in 300 baud and 2400 baud versions, the small ( 12" x 8") and light (3kg) (6.5 lbs.) self-contained unit can go just about any-where you need an input device. All for a mere $750.

For complete information on the PRS01, call your nearest Digital office; or write Digital Equipment Corporation, Traditional Products, 125 Northeastern Boulevard, Nashua, New Hampshire 03060.

d


• Fast TurnAround 25 days from your design to prototype circuits

• Low Cost Save 80% over a fully custom design

'Reduced Circuit Size Multiple saving by reducing circuit size 90%

•Proven Process Standard CMOS assures high reliability and dependable delivery

INTERNATIONAL MICROCIRCUITS,INC.

3004 Lawrence Expwy,Santa Clara, Ca 95050 (408) 735-9370

New products

read and write cycle times range from 250 to 500 nanoseconds. Two chassis are available. One includes a power supply and blowers and holds up to six cards. The other holds up to 33 cards and requires external power and fans. OEM prices range from 0.28 cent per bit for the cards with 24-bit words to 0.5 cent per bit for complete systems. Delivery time is 90 to 120 days. Intel Memory Systems, 1302 N. Mathilda

Ave., Sunnyvale, Calif. 94086. Phone Connie

Magne at (408) 745-7120 [366]

IBM-compatible diskette

system holds 1 megabyte

A series of IBM-compatible mass storage systems built around the fast PerSci diskette drive is available with capacities up to 1 megabyte of formatted data. The new systems incorporate model 277 dual diskette drives and are available in a variety of configurations: one- or two-drive (two- or four-spindle) systems com-plete with microprocessor-based con-troller, power supply, and cabling enclosed in a 19-inch rack-mount-able chassis; one- or two-drive systems with power supply but no

O controller; and a compact, low-profile system that, when mounted vertically, measures only 4.5 inches wide and contains a single dual drive and a power supply.

Prices for the systems range from $3,995 for the two-drive system with the controller to $ 1,630 for the one-drive system without the controller. PerSci Inc., 12210 Nebraska Ave., West Los

Angeles, Calif. 90025. Phone (213) 820-

3764 [363]

Electronics/October 27, 1977 Circle 271 on reader service card

Overprotection can affect a CMOS switch

for life. A0751001 Series Output Switch Diode Equivalent Circuit

VDD +15V

But not Analog Devices' AD7510 family of DI CMOS analog switches. They belong to a whole new generation. With positive overvoltage pro-tection, but without any inhibi-tion on performance.

We accomplished it through a unique design, utilizing "on-chip" resistors in series with the power supply. It provides as much as -±25V overvoltage protection. But the resistors only switch in when an overvoltage condition occurs. So normal performance never suffers. And you get both the main assets of an analog switch: a low "ON" resistance of 75fl and a low leakage current of 400pA.

The equivalent circuit of the output switch element shows that, indeed, the 1 kn, limiting resistors are in series with the back-gates of the P- and N-channel output devices— not in ANALOG series with the signal path between the S and DEVICES D terminals.

The real CMOS switch company

—15V Vss

This design, com-bined with our di-

electrically-isolated CMOS fabrication process, prevents

latch-up. And allows TTL/ CMOS direct interfacing.

We also included two other measures of secur-ity. Silicon nitride passi-

vation to ensure long term stability and mono-

lithic construction for reliability. Now when it comes to protecting

CMOS switches so they can survive in the real world, Analog Devices knows best. Write for our 8-page technical bulletin on the entire family of DI CMOS protected analog switches, to Analog Devices, the real company in precision measure-ment and control.

Anakig Devices, Inc., Box 280, Nonvood, Massachusetts 020ti2. East Coast: (617) 329-4700, Midwest; (312) 894-3300, Wtst Coast; (213) 595-1 783, Tows: (214) 231-5094. Belgium: 03 3827 07, Denmark: 97 95 99, England: 01/94 10466, France: 686-7760, Germany: 089/53 113 19, japan; «3/26 36 te26, Holland; 076-879251,Switzerland: U22/319704 and

representatives around the world.


The Threat Japanese trade and technology

The Opportunity Today's microprocessor explosion

The Conference Learn how to cope with the threat

and make the most of the opportunity.

1977 Electronics Conference

December 7-8 Washington D.C.

Send in the registration form today E>


How to cope with the Japanese trade and technology threat.

The gathering wave of Japanese technology: What will the impact be? Japan's share of the semiconductor market is still small and its share of the computer market is even smaller. But the Japanese have set their sights on these targets and their progress in the past couple of years has been startling. Wilfred J. Corrigan, Chairman and Presi-dent, Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp. Other speak-ers to be announced.

What must American companies do to keep their tech-nological edge? In the past the U.S. electronics industries have been the world's unquestioned technological leaders. A serious challenge is developing now in semiconductors, computers, fiber optics, and other areas. In the past couple of years, Japanese research and development programs have begun to close the gap, and it is the Japanese gov-ernment that is financing much of the R & D. J. Fred Buoy, President, Texas Instruments Incorporated.

The Labor Department's Response to the Japanese Challenge: Greater Japanese penetration in the market means fewer jobs for U.S. workers. Deputy Under Secre-tary of Labor for International Affairs will give the Labor Department's plans for action. Howard D. Samuel, Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.

How to succeed in business with the Japanese: Experts will outline some of the different ways of doing business with the Japanese, listing the advantages and potential pitfalls of each. Bernard V. Vonderschmitt, Vice President and General Manager, Solid State Division, RCA Corpora-tion. Terry Wong, Director, Business Development, Micro-electronic Devices, Rockwell International Corporation.

How American electronic companies can win the battle for foreign markets: Some portions of the Japanese mar-keting effort—financing terms, for example—are tough to counter, but other tools are available to U.S. companies. Richard Hodgson, Senior Vice President, International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation.

Japan versus the U.S.: The government response: Richard Heimlich will discuss the Carter Administration's response to the question of Japanese competition and de-scribe wnat steps the Office of Special Trade Negotiations is taking. Richard W. Heimlich, Assistant Special Trade Represeitative for Industrial Trade Policy, Office of the Representative for Trade Negotiations, Washington, D.C.

How can domestic electronics firms respond to the Japanese marketing threat in the U.S.? Leading experts from the U.S. industries will give their insights into steps U.S. firms can take to cope with the Japanese challenge. L. J. Sevin, Chairman of the Board, Mostek Corporation.

The potential of microprocessors: A What is going to happen? The outlook in microprocessors: Where are they going next? Microprocessor development is far from complete. One of the leading microprocessor experts will tell you how he sees microprocessors developing. Leslie L. Vadasz, Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Microcom-puter Division, Intel Corporation.

The microprocessor universe: What's out there? What are the advantages of choosing a one-chip microproces-sor? What are the advantages and disadvantages of 8- bit and 16- bit systems? What are the cost- performance trade-offs of chips versus boards? Colin Crook, Group Opera-

3 The economy and the markets: Where are they going? Electronics markets in the coming year: A preview. Electronics publisher Dan McMillan and Executive Editor Samuel Weber will give a special preview of the annual Electronics market forecast, looking at worldwide market prospects. Dan McMillan, Publisher, Electronics. Samuel Weber, Executive Editor, Electronics.

tions Manager, Microproducts, Semiconductor Group, Motorola, Inc. Andrew C. Knowles, Vice President/Group Manager, Digital Equipment Corporation. Malcolm B. Northrup, Vice President, Microelectronic Devices, Elec-tronic Devices Division, Rockwell International Corpora-tion. James Van Tassel, Manager, MOS Microprocessor, Texas Instruments Incorporated.

How to get started in microprocessors: What can a microprocessor do for your company? What will be the likely effect of microprocessors on your industry? Eric Garen, Vice President, Integrated Computer Systems.

Where is the economy going and what does it mean for you? Will the economy lose steam by mid- 1978? What does future economic growth rate mean for the inventory levels electronics firms should maintain? If capital spend-ing takes off, what should that mean for your business? Douglas Greenwald, Vice President—Economics, McGraw-Hill Publications Company.

Send registration form to: McGraw-Hill Conference & Seminar Group • 1221 Avenue of the Americas—Room 3677 • New York, N.Y. • ( 212) 997-4930 Please register me for Threats and Opportunities: How To Face Today's Challenges, sponsored by Electronics. Conference fee: $300

Name

Company

Street

City

Business Phone

Applicant's signature

Title

State

Date

Zip

Check one: O Payment enclosed D Please bill me directly D Please bill company Hotel reservations: The Shoreham Hotel is holding a block of rooms for this conference. For reservations, con-tact the Shoreham directly. Be sure to identify the title of the conference. Cancellation policy: No refunds will be made seven days prior to the conference. You may, it you wish, send a substitute.

E-2


TI Distributors

New products

Subassemblies

Hybrids built from submodules

Power circuits of 25-A type

include bridges, doublers,

and an ac switch

Using a submodule approach to construction, FMC Corp. has become the fourth company to enter the market with encapsulated hybrid power-module assemblies. Already in the business- estimated by FMC at $ 1.7 million a year in sales and growing at an annual rate of 45%-

désiesssionsalis

are International Rectifier Corp., General Electric Co., and Unitrode Corp. [Electronics, Sept. 29, P. 132]. The FMC devices, called Power-

Mods, consist of a family of five single-phase, 25-ampere-type, en-capsulated hybrid bridges of trans-fer-molded construction.

Directly intermountable and inter-changeable with all standard 25-A hybrids on the market, the Power-Mods are available in circuit config-urations that include hybrid bridges with or without freewheeling diodes, an ac switch, a doubler with diode and silicon controlled rectifier, and an scit doubler. The company's packaging method also permits vari-ous custom configurations, subject only to the limitation that the assembly have no more than six

Get the TM 990/100 mP module from these distributors.

LABAMA: Huntsville. Hall-Mark/Huntsville 205) 837-8700

RIZONA: Phoenix, Kierulf t Electronics (602) 243-4101: R V eatherford i 6021 272-7144. Tempe, G S Marshall 1602) 68-6181

ALIFORNIA: Anaheim, R. V. Weatherford ( 714) 633-9633. Canoga ark, G. S. Marshall ( 213) 999-5001; El Monte, G. S Marshall ( 213) 86-0141, El Segundo, TI Supply 1213) 973-2571. Glendale. R V eatherford (213) 849-3451; Goleta, RPS. Inc. (805) 964-6823.

mine, Cramer/Los Angeles ( 714) 979-3000. (213) 771-8300. G S. arshall i 714) 556-6400. Los Angeles, Kierulff Electronics ( 213) 85-5511. RPS. Inc. ( 213) 748-1271: Mountain View, Time Dec-°rocs ( 408) 965-8000; Palo Alto, Kierulff Electronics ( 415) 968-292, Pomona, R. V. Weatherford (714) 623-1261. San Diego, ramer/San Diego ( 714) 565-1881. Kierulff Electronics ( 714) 278-112. G. S. Marshall ( 714) 278-6350, RPS Inc. ( 714) 292-5611: . V Weatherford (7141 278-7400: Sunnyvale. Cramer/San Fran-sco (408) 739-3011. G S Marshall ( 408) 732-1100. TI Supply 08) 732-5555: Torrance, Time Electronics ( 213) 320-0880. Wood-and Hills, Semiconductor Concepts ( 213) 884-4560

OLORADO: Denver, Cramer/Denver 1303) 758-2100, Kieru Elec-onics (303) 371-6500: Englewood. R V Weatherford (303) 61-5432.

ONNECTICUT: Hamden, Arrow Electronics ( 203) 248-3801. North yen, Cramer/Connecticut 1203) 239-5641: Orange. Milgray/

onnecticut ( 203) 795-0714

LORIDA: Clearwater, Diplomat/Southland (8131 443-4514. Ft. auderdale. Arrow Electronics ( 305) 776-7790. Hall-Mark/Miami 305) 971-9280, Hollywood. Cramer/Hollywood (305) 923-8181. lando. Cramer/Orlando (305) 894-1511. Hall-Mark/Orlando ( 305)

55-4020. Winter Park. %Wray Electronics ( 305) 647-5747

EORGIA: Norcross, Cramer/Atlanta ( 404) 448-9050

LINOIS: Arlington Heights, TI Supply (312) 593-7660, Elk Grove. all-Mark/Chicago ( 312) 437-8800: Kierulff Electronics 13121 640-200. Chicago, Newark Electronics (312) 638-4411. Mt. Prospect. ramer/Chicago ( 312) 593-8230.

NOIANA, Ft. Wayne. Ft. Wayne Electronics ( 219) 423-3422. ndianapolis. Graham Electronics ( 317) 634-8202.

OWA: Cedar Rapids. Decco (319) 365-7551.

ANSAS: Shawnee Mission. Hall-Mark/Kansas City (913) 888-4747

ASSACHUSETTS: Billerica. Kierulf I Electronics (6171 667-8331: ewton. Cramer/Newton (617) 969-7700. Waltham. TI Supply (617) 90-0510. Woburn. Arrow Electronics (617) 933-8130.

ARYLAND: Baltimore. Arrow Electronics ) 202) 737-1700. Hall-ark/Baltimore i301) 796-9300. Columbia, Technic° 1301) 461-200. Gaithersburg, Cramer/Washington (301) 948-0110. Kierulff ectronics (301) 948-0250. Hyattsville. MI'gray/Washington (301) 59-2222

CHIGAN: Detroit, Newark Electronics (313) 967-0600, Wyoming, ewark Electronics ( 616) 241-6681

NNESOTA: Bloomington, Arrow Electronics 1612) 888-5522, dine, Cramer/Minnesota 1612) 835-7811

SSOURI: Earth City, Hall-Mark/St. Louis 13141 291-5350, Kansas LCOMP-Kansas City ( 816) 221-2400. St. Louis, LCOMP-

t Louis ( 314) 647-5505

EW HAMPSHIRE: Manchester. Arrow Electronics (603) 668-6968

EW JERSEY: Camden, General Radio Supply 1609) 964-8560. herry Hill. Cramer/Pennsylvania (215) 923-5950. (609) 424-5993. 'gray/Delaware Valley (609) 424-1300. ( 215) 228-2000. Clark, TI

upply 12011 382-6400: Clifton, Wilshire Electronics ( 201) 340-900, Moonachie. Cramer/New Jersey ( 201) 935-5600. Moores-own. Arrow Electronics (609) 235-1900. Rothe,lord. Kierulff Elec-ronics ( 201) 935-2120. Saddlebrook. Arrow Electronics ( 201) 97-5800

EW MEXICO: Albuquerque, Cramer/New Mexico (505) 265-5767

NEW YORK: East Syracuse, Cramer/Syracuse (315) 437-6671. ndwell, Wilshire Electronics (607) 754-1570. Farmingdale. Arrow

Electronics ( 516) 694-6800, Hicksville, Kierult I Electronics ( 516) 33-5530. Fishkill. Arrow Electronics ( 914) 896-7530. Freeport. MI'gray Electronics ( 516) 546-6000. (201) 432-4300. Hauppauge, ramer/Long Island ( 516) 231-5600. Semiconductor Concepts ( 516) 73-1234. Rochester. Cramer/Rochester ( 716) 275-0300: Rocheste

Radio Supply ( 716) 454-7800: Wilshire Electronics ( 716) 442-9560.

NORTH CAROLINA: Raleigh, Hall-Mark/Raleigh (919) 832-4465. Winston-Salem, Cramer/Winston-Salem (919) 725-8711.

OHIO: Cleveland, Arrow Electronics (216) 464-2000, Cramer/ Cleveland ( 216) 248-8400; Columbus, Hall-Mark/Ohio (614) 846-882. Dayton, ESCO Electronics ( 513( 226-1133. Kettering. Arrow

Electronics ( 513) 253-9176.

OKLAHOMA: Tulsa. Hall-Mark/Tulsa / 918) 835-8458. TI Supply 918) 582-8272

PENNSYLVANIA- Huntingdon Valley. Hall-Mark/Philadelphia (215) 355-7300

TEXAS: Austin, F(all-Mark,Austin ‘ 512) 837-2814. Dallas, Hall- Mark/ Dallas ( 214) 231-6111; TI Supply (2141 238-6821. Houston, Harrison Equipment (713) 652-4700. TI Supply (713) 776-6511. R. V Weatherford (713) 688-7406.

UTAH: Salt Lake City, Diplomat/Altaland ( 801) 486-7227: Standard Supply (801) 486-3371.

VIRGINIA: Roanoke. Technics ( 703) 563-4975.

WASHINGTON: Seattle, Almac/Stroum Electronics (206) 763-2300: Cramer/Seattle ( 206) 575-0907; Kierulff Electronics (206) 575-4420.

WISCONSIN: Oak Creek, Arrow Electronics (414) 764-6600: West Allis, Hall-Mark/Milwaukee (414) 476-1270.

CANADA: Calgary, Cam Gard Supply 14031 287-0520; Downsview. CESCO Electronics (416) 661-0220. Zentronics (416) 635-2822. Edmonton, Cam Gard Supply (403) 426-1805; Halifax, Cam Gard Supply (902) 454-8581: Kamloops, Cam Gard Supply (604) 372-3338, Moncton, Cam Gard Supply (506) 855-2200; Montreal, CESCO Electronics ( 514) 735-5511; Future Electronics ( 514) 735-5775. Zentronics (514) 735-5361; Ottawa, CESCO Electronics (613) 729-5118; Future Electronics (613) 232-7757: Zentronics (613) 238-6411: Ouebec City, CESCO Electronics ( 418) 524-4641; Regina. Cam Gard Supply (306) 525-1317; Acodale, Future Electronics (416) 677-7820: Saskatoon, Cam Gard Supply 13061 652-6424. Van-couver, Cam Gard Supply 16041 291-1441; Winnipeg, Cam Gard Supply ( 204) 786-8481


First low-cost, 16-bit pP modules. For OEMs. From lèxas Instruments. The new TM 990 Series. Fastest,

easiest way to get a microprocessor-

based design to market. Ideal for

p,P evaluation. And a cost-effective

production alternative.

First in TI's new series: TM 990/

100M. A TMS 9900 microprocessor,

I/O circuits, 1K x 16-bit EPROM

and 256 x 16-bit RAM on a single

71/2 " x 11" board. Pretested and

ready to go.

The EPROM, which includes a

self-contained software monitor

(TIBUGTm), is expandable to 4K x

16 bits. The RAM to 512 x 16 bits.

Also on board: 16 lines of program-

mable parallel I/O, TTY current

loop or RS 232 terminal interface.

Two programmable interval tim-

ers; 15 external hardware inter-

rupts. Plus a user prototyping

area. All control, address and data

lines are fully available to facili-

tate expansion to extremely large

systems.

Leadership price

At a single unit price of $450.00,

the TM 990/100111 is an economical means for checking out what TI's

9900 microprocessor can do. And at

a 50-piece price of $315.00, it is

attractive for production runs.

More modules coming

A TMS 9980-based CPU module. A

ROM/RAM memory expansion

module. An I/O expansion module.

A microterminal for data entry/

display. A line-by-line assembler

in EPROM.

9900 First Family compatibility

The TM 990 Series modules are

supported by the new advanced

AMPLTm software development

system. And are fully compatible

with all members of TI's 9900 First Family. So you can move to the

TMS 9900 components level. Or to

TI's 990/4 microcomputer. Easily.

Economically.

Order the TM 990/100M today

from your TI distributor. Or for

details, write Texas In-

struments Incorporated,

RO. Box 1443, M/S 653,

Houston, Texas 77001.

1977 Texas Instruments Incorporated

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED 93141



VICTORY SELECTIVITY THERMISTORS

New-Low cost SensiChips" • Small size • From .020" sq. to .300" sq. • Thickness from .005 to .070 in. • Resistances from 5 K ohms to 1 meg. • Typical response time 4 seconds. • Protective coating available

VICTORY ENGINEERING CORP. VICTORY ROACE SPRINGFIELD. NEW JERSEY :70131

TVVX 710-983-4430 TEL 201 — 379 —5900

16 POSITIONS .iTERSWITCH now offers two new 16-poeion

tWmbwhiael switches - the Twe H front mounting sWitch and the Type P rear mounting switch.

Each switch module measures ()nib; 10-mn wide and is available with a muktitude of options which INTERSWITCH offers on all of lb thum)wheel switches.

Aiailabie from stock and local distribution. Write

INTERSWITCH

( NE OF THE PURDY Gee 1SP Of ( JOIN

770 Airport Bou evard Burlingame, CA 94010

(415) 347-8217 • TWX 910-374-2353

New products

external terminals. Applications for the assemblies

include dc motor controls, battery chargers, solid-state circuit breakers, generator exciters, lighting control, temperature controllers, cathodic protection, and power supplies.

In FMC'S submodule approach to construction, all semiconductor ele-ments are glass-passivated and mounted on a copper-clad ceramic substrate. The submodule provides efficient thermal spreading and transfer through the copper pad, plus 2,500-volt base-plate isolation through the ceramic. Each SCR (or each SCR and diode pair) and the freewheeling diode are mounted on separate submodules. At this point, before hybrid

assembly, each submodule is fully tested. This greatly enhances the consistency of the final yield and therefore the reliability of delivery schedules, the company points out.

Next, the submodule is mounted on a heat sink and the elements interconnected with a thick-clad epoxy-glass circuit board. The com-plete encapsulated assembly is then formed by means of a transfer-molding process.

Each hybrid is labeled with a decal that shows the circuit diagram, thus permitting quick identification of type and of terminal connections.

In the PowerMod family are two single-phase half-wave hybrid bridge circuits— one with a freewheeling diode for use in applications with inductive loads. The ac switch, also a member of the new family, is rated at 50 A and consists of two thyristors connected antiparallel. The fourth configuration now available is an SCR and rectifier doubler, rated at 35 A, that can be used in parallel with a single-phase bridge to form a three-phase bridge, increasing maximum load output substantially. The fifth standard configuration is an SCR

doubler— two SCRS in series with a center tap— is also rated at 35 A.

Two or three units can be combined to make a single- or three-phase full-control bridge circuit. A typical price, in lots of 1 to 24

pieces, is $28.75 each for the 30-A, 600-v bridge with freewheeling


Recalibrate. (Your thinking and your budget)

Our new 5100/5101A calibrators can calibrate VTVMs, VOMs, 31/2 -, 41/2 - and most 51/2-digit DMMs a-round, in a fraction of the time it takes you now! (It's a cal lab in a box! All at an average price under $9,000.) For $10,000 to $15,000, you could

invest in an intricate maze of instru-ments that takes a wizard to operate. Or, you could fill a room with com-puter-based hardware and expensive talent. About $100,000 worth.

The Fluke .1P-controlled alternative. We've designed the new 5100A and

5101A for production test, QA and cal lab applications that need large system flexibility at a fraction of large system cost. The heart of our new meter cali-

brators is a microprocessor that elim-inates mechanical switches—the larg-est contributor to failure in conven-tional calibrators.

And, you can enter your tolerances in dB, volts or percent. The .(1') con-verts for you! For safety, store cur-rent or voltage limits and protect both your operator and the meter being calibrated.

Microprocessor control also facili-tates scaling (for linearity checking), and makes your calibrator a range-less instrument, always selecting the proper range for maximum resolution, automatically!

Automation or economy? Fluke has both. The 5100A is perfect for manual

bench operation or integration into

your existing cal system to upgrade it to Fluke standards of calibration excellence. Priced at $6,995*, you save dollars but don't sacrifice accu-racy or overall performance. For perfection in automated cali-

bration, you'll want the 5101A with its mini-tape cassette reader, a unique new feature that allows you to store up to 58 calibration settings, includ-ing limits and tolerances. Only $8,995*. Both models have a friendly calcu-

lator-type keyboard. And, both have the RS232 or IEEE 488 system op-tions you want for remote operation or hard-copy printouts of results.

Can MO) 426-0361, toll free. Ask for complete technical specs or the location of your local Fluke office or representative. Or, write: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., P.O. Box 43210, Mount-lake Terrace, WA 98043.

*U.S. price only.

Command Performance: Demand Fluke Calibrators.

FLUKE 2.010-8001 For Literature circle 274

For Demonstration circle 177

Terminals For The Times

Today's complex circuit designs often call for miniaturized solder terminals. Cambion has what you need along with a full range of conventional solder termi-nals. You'll find standard insulated types; press mount styles; single and double or even triple turret models with superior plating on all important surfaces. Even though Cambion makes them in huge quantities, the quality never slips. Write for our giant catalog of components. Cambridge Thermionic Corporation, 445 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138. Phone: 617-491-5400. In Califor-nia, 2733 Pacific Coast Hgwy, Torrance, CA 90505. Phone: 213-326-7822.

Standardize on

CAMBION The Guaranteed Electronic Components

New products

diode. Single units are available from distributors' stock. Delivery time for quantity orders is three to six weeks. FMC Corp., Semiconductor Division, 800

Hoyt St., Broomfield, Colo. 80020. Phone

Brian Bachman at (303) 469-2161. [381]

Dc power amplifier

delivers 100 watts

A linear power amplifier for driving dc torque motors, servo motors, and other loads requiring proportional power up to 100 watts features adjustable current limiting, a full-power bandwidth of 5 kilohertz, and complete protection against short circuits, excessive input voltage, and overheating. The model 100 PMA is an operational-type amplifier with a

single-ended output stage that gives it much the same drive flexibility as standard op amps. Powered directly by the 115-volt ac line, the amplifier carries an unconditional two-year guarantee. Servo Products Group, Control Systems

Research Inc., 632 Fort Duquesne Blvd.,

Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222. Phone Jim Dudiak at

(412) 566-1200 [383]

Voltage follower slews at

3,000 volts/microsecond

The model 9963 voltage follower and current booster combines a mini-mum input resistance of 10'° ohms with a small-signal bandwidth of 200 megahertz and a minimum slew rate

VAN VA CUUMSCHMELIE

VACOZET® a semi-hard magnetic alloy with rectangular hysteresis loop for impulse controlled self latching relais.

Bobbin 1 Bobbin 2 -\

o

Properties:

e high remanence • adjustable coercitive force

VACOZET 200 258 655 923

Hc A/cm 15 30 50 75

Br T 1.5 1.45 1.45 125

Br/Bloc % ca.90

For data sheet and further information apply to

VACUUMSCHMELZE GMBH 6450 HANAU W.- Germany • POB 109



We've lowered the cost of environmentally-qualified terminals.

Interstate Electronics has developed a new family of ruggedized plasma display terminals that cost significantly less than any comparable military terminals.

Because Interstate Electronics— and nobody else—gives you "next generation" plasma display electronics. Through innovative circuit integration. we've reduced terminal size, weight and electrical complexity. As well as price.

The PD Series can be specified for a variety of military environments— sheltered, shipboard and airborne.

Each model offers: • 4,000 character display capability • Complete graphics capability

Copyright 1977 Interstate Electronics Corporation

• Extremely fast transfer rates (up to 50K baud) • Inherent memory and selective write/erase to free computer time • Extremely long panel life

We also offer a complete selection of options, including: • Touch panel input • Special function keys • Programmable character generator • Multiple input/output capability

• Software support packages Interstate can help you

select the optimum l ip

Circle

terminal configuration for your requirements. Give us an opportunity to discuss your operational environment and performance needs.

Write or call Don Poulos, Products Manager, Computer Products, Interstate Electronics Corporation, 707 E. Vermont Ave., Anaheim, CA 92802. (714) 635-7210 or (714) 772-2811.

I NTERSTATE E LECTRONICS CORPORATION SUBSIDIARY of Arne

179 on reader service card Al

If this is all you're seeing,

this is what you're missing

The AO® DICV Differential Interference Contrast Microscope makes the big difference.

With a standard brightfield microscope you see only what is shown in the top sample.

Now look at the bottom sample. The AO DICV Microscope can help you see surface irregularities, inclusions and faults long before final testing. Long before you have invested more production time and money in a circuit or component that is defective.

By using incident light, after Nomarski, the AO DICV Microscope reveals significant detail in outstanding relief through vivid contrast enhancement.

So, if missing detail is costing you money, you can't afford to overlook the AO DICV Microscope. For details or a demonstration see your AO Dealer or write American Optical, Scientific Instrument Division, Buffalo, NY 14215.

AO® American Optical


New products

of 3,000 volts per microsecond. The dc-coupled amplifier also has a full-power bandwidth of 50 MHz, a maximum bias current of 100 picoamperes, and a maximum offset-voltage drift of 400 microvolts per °C. Voltage gain is typically 0.96, with 0.92 specified as the minimum. The 9963 is electrically similar to National's LH0063 and is housed in a standard 24-pin dual in-line pack-age. It sells for $44 in unit quantity, $39.50 each for three to nine pieces, and $35.50 each in lots of 10 to 29. Delivery is from stock. Optical Electronics Inc.. P. 0. Box 11140,

Tucson, Ariz. 85734. Phone Mrs. Mac at

(602) 624-8358 [384]

Multi-output supplies are

adjustable over a 20% range

A line of multiple-output power supplies for general industrial elec-tronics applications— particularly in computer and microprocessor

systems— includes units with voltages from 5 volts dc to 28 y dc, all adjustable ± 10% about their normal values. The supplies are offered with current ratings from 1 ampere to 12 A and with such stan-dard features as: complete isolation between outputs, current limiting, short-circuit protection, universal ac inputs for 115/230 y ac at 47 to 440 hertz, and ut. recognition. Among the available options are overvoltage protection.

General specifications include line and load regulation to within 0.1%, 0.1% ripple, 50-microsecond re-sponse time, 0.02%/°C temperature coefficient, and 0°C to 50°C operat-ing-temperature range. Prices for the units, designated the SPS-D and SPS-T series, range from $ 104 to

Our attenuators will always level with you.

Honest attenuation. In your equipment or on the

bench, Telonic Attenuators provide reliable " specs or better" performance. We make sure, because we use them in our own instruments. Our thick film resistive

elements are made in-house to assure you of top quality. Their operating parameters enable us to guarantee accuracies in some models to ± .02 dB, frequency coverage to 4GHz and power-handling capabilities up to 25 watts. Here's the selection, in 50-or 75-ohm versions: Variable ( Rotary) Types

1, 10, 69, 100. or 110 dB ranges 0.1, 1.0, and 10 dB steps.

Fixed Value Types 3, 6, 10, 20,30, 40, 50, or 60 dB SMA, TNC, BNC, or N connectors. Telonic also supplies bench-

top versions incorporating sequenced rotary models, and special versions to fit your requirements. Call us TOLL

FREE (except in Calif.) for further specs, prices, more information, or

our new Attenuator Catalog. Telonic Altair,

2825 Laguna Canyon Road, Box 277, Laguna Beach, CA 92652. Phone: 714/494-9401 TOLL FREE: 800-854-2436.

Telonic


heres your stimulus The E-H 1500 Series

MOS T2L ECL L

tickle your dut!

0 to ± 20V

0 to ± 10V

0 to ± 2V 0 to ± 2V

TR = 5ns to 0.8rns TR = 3ns to 0.8ms TR < 500ps TR < 500p

IT'S A PULSE GENERATOR FAMILY! Repetition Frequency to 50 MHz Pulse Width 3ns to 1 second

Pulse Delay 3ns to 1 second

REMOTE PULSES RIGHT AT YOUR FIXTURE!

Interfaces available to you

IEEE 488 — ASC Il — 16 bit — Parallel

The recognized standard of excellence in ATE pulses

( H) 515 11TH STREET

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94607 PHONE (415) 834-3030

1 5 :1 “se• u4,14.1•,04..1.

4 9 9 5 II Nz O D 1

NO. 1/1•1011114

9 9 9 'Me 9 9 9

1 r 0 I n

: i‘e%

el / 1

2

9

•11/..1

ala MASI

owns

e e

10011

/MAW', ammo z uust

./Fo o 0 0 `,

OF, ill

New products

$139 with delivery from stock. Standard Power Inc., 1400 South Village

Way, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705. Phone ( 714)

558-8512 [386]

Oscillator drifts less than

1 part in 109 per day

Available at any fixed frequency up to 200 megahertz, the model CO-220 very-high-frequency crystal os-cillator is a compact unit with a

long-term drift rate of 1 part in 109 per day. Standard output power is 7 dem, with 13 (Ism available as an option. Other options include voltage control of frequency and operation from — 55°C to 75°C. The standard temperature range is 0°C to 50°C. Vectron Laboratories Inc., 121 Water St.,

Norwalk, Conn. 06854. Phone Larry Jawitz

at (203) 853-4433 [385]

LC oscillators

cover 20 MHz to 200 MHz

A voltage-controlled LC oscillator, model P-414, holds frequency devia-tion to ± 10%. The unit is available at any frequency from 20 megahertz to 200 MHz, and it is stable within ±0.5% over the range from 10°C to 60°C. Power output is + 7 dem into 50 ohms. The P-414 is priced at $70 each in lots of 1,000. Delivery time is 8 to 10 weeks. Greenray Industries Inc., 840 West Church

Rd., Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17055 [387]

owe o , 0 c

r-0

rn

4-- Circle 182 on reader service card

Need power-switching inductors for switching regulators?

TRW/UTC has a stock answer.

Introducing the SR series, a family of miniature high-

performance., power-switching inductors. Our SR Induczo-s reduce size and weight. Now you

have off-the-sheff power-switching inductors with per-formance advantages over your in-house capabilities.

Low temperature rise and low loss characteristics

combine to give the SR series high performance with maximum reliability. With an inductance range of 8 to 10,000 U -y, a DC current range from .8 amps to 15 amps,

SR Inductors have low losses in the 3 to 100 KHz fre-quency rarge, making them iceal for use in switching

regulators and AC filter-choke applications. Compact and easy to install, the SR family has pin

terminals for mounting on PC boards. AvailabJe with

double windings, which when brought out to four ter-minals permit series, parallel, center-tapped or trans-

former connections.

Available from stock in three sizes. TypeSRA measures

7/8- in. OD by 7/16-in. height; SRB meast.res 1-3/16-,n. OD by 9/16-in, height; and SRC measures 1-3/8- in. OD by 3/4- in. height.

Check your authorized TRW/UTC local distributor for immediate off-the-shelf delivery or contact TRW/UTC

Transformers, an Operation of TRW Electronic Com-

ponents, 150 Varick Street, New York, N.Y. 10013. Area Code: 212 255-3500.

TRW UTC TRANSFORMERS ANOTHER PRODUCT OF A COMPANY CALLED TRW


when reli-ability com

Count on Custom mica paper capacitors Custom mica paper capacitors are used in a wide variety of applica-tions from spacecraft to medical electronics — areas where com-ponent failure can be fatal.

For this reason, every capacitor we produce is subjected to strin-gent quality control testing. After all, our customers have to count on reliability!

ossmele C MR — wrap and fill

CEM — epoxy molded

CER — epoxy housed

Write for FREE Techni Tips:

CUSTOM ELECTRONICS. INC. 12 Browne Street, Oneonta, NY 13820 PH: 607-432-3880 TWX: 510-241-8292

New products

Communications

Test set cuts operating costs

Instrument package checks

baseband parameters for

low-capacity systems

Operators of small— say, one master group— telephone systems must make the same basic baseband measurements as are made on larger systems but typically must do it on a much smaller budget. The problem has been that available high-quality test equipment has suited the needs and pocketbooks of the large-system operators. W&G Instruments Inc. has at-

tacked this problem by putting together an instrument package called the RBTS (for radio baseband test system), which saves money by sacrificing bandwidth but not preci-sion. The main difference between the RBTS and a more expensive instrument is that the new package

can only handle systems with up to 960 voice channels. This covers a large number of low-density systems such as those operated by railroads, automotive and trucking fleets, small telephone companies, and large cor-porations with their own private networks. The RBTS is essentially four instru-

ments in one: a selective level meter, a wideband meter, a voice-channel meter, and a broadband noise loader. The selective level meter measures pilot tones, carrier leak, and system frequency response. It also can be used for system alignment and to search for spurious tones. The wide-band meter measures total system load and, in conjunction with the noise loader and a set of filters, makes noise-power-ratio measure-ments. The voice-channel meter measures voice level, voice-channel distortion, and voiceband switching tones. Because its output is extreme-ly flat, the noise loader serves as the signal source when measuring sys-tem frequency response. The key bandwidth-limiting com-

ponent of the instrument package is its multipurpose AT-608 level meter. In its wideband mode, this unit acts


Block diagram of MN1400 with on.c ip, 1024x8-bit ROM.

4-bit, one- chip micro-

computers

Brainy enough for anything

from TV games to industrial

controls.

- .

VDD 4

vss

RS?

TST 4

CSLCI 4

INT•2 4

INTl 4

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ROM

'PC'STACK

SYST CONT

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ALU

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effort.-

Now Panasonic offers you a whole family of TrL compatible, one-chip microcomputers. So you can choose the combination of features and capabilities that are most cost-effective for your application. From appliances to gas pumps and electronic scales, to copiers, POS and intelligent terminals, tractor controls and countless others.

Why pay for costly I/O interfacing when Panasonic puts it all on the chip? Our MN1400 family is ideally suited for control

functions with its extensive array of on-chip I/O facilities. There's an 8-bit presettable counter/timer, a clock generator, an arithmetic logic unit, and several input and output ports. Units are available with a self-contained 1024x8-bit ROM and a 64x4-bit

RAM memory.

Still more flexibility and efficiency from Panasonic. For flexibility, our instruction set contains up to 75

instructions. To give you TTL compatibility, all our family members operate on + 5V. And for extra computing speed, we've utilized N-channel ED MOS

construction.

Panasonic can help you cut development time and costs. Our Evaluator, the MN1499, can help you design, evaivate and debug programs quickly. In addition, software is available for a number of applications.

The Panasonic family of one-chip microcomputers.

Package

Power Supply

Instruction Cycle Time

Inswuction et

1 Instruction Instruction Memory ROM

Total on Chip RAM

MN1s0C 40- Pin

Plastic 0.P

+5V

10/..s

75

MN1402 28- Pin

Plastic DIP

+5),

101.s

57

Internal Internal 1024 x 8 tits 768 n 8 bits (6192 bits) 1(6144 bits)

64 x 4 bits 32 x 4 bits (256 bits) ( 128 bits)

MN1498 40-Pin

?lastic DIP

+5V

10p s

68

External 1124 x 8 bits (8192 bits)

64 x 4 bits (256 bits)

MN14I9 64-Pin

Ceramic DIP

+5V

Oei S

75

External 2048 x 8 bits (16384 bits)

64 z 4 bits (256 bits)

16-bit microprocessors, too. They're ideally suited for a wide variety of com-

puter peripheral and business machine applications Designed with minicomputer architecture LOCOS MOS N-channel construction for optimum speed anc

thruput efficiency. For complete information and prices, write to

Panasonic Electronic Components, One Panasonic Way, Secaucus, N.J. 07094; or call (201) 348-7269.

Panasonic just slightly ahead of our time


THE NEW DIT-MCO SERIES 8210 AUTOMATIC WIRE CIRCUIT

ANALYSIS SYSTEMS

A CHOICE...FLEXIBLE, EXPANDABLE, POWERFUL SOFTWARE/HARDWARE

TEST SYSTEM PACKAGES Obsolete is Obsolete... The DIT-MCO Series 8210, com-prised of systems 8211, 8212, and 8213, offers the most complete package of automatic wire circuit test capabilities available to serve your present and continuing test reeds. In fact, Series 8210 obso-letes the word obsolete. You can select the system to fit your current test requirements with certain knowledge that as your needs ex-pand your DIT-MCO system can be upgraded to deliver!

Powerful Software/Hardware... Series 8210 are real-time disc oper-ating systems with disc file main-tenance in the system. Series 8210 systems are driven by fully interactive computer systems yet require no specialized operator training. A unique and compre-hensive group of programs for test-ing, maintenance, and diagnostics are standard. Software is the evolu-tionary culmination of over five years experience and proven field use. Eeny, Meeny, Miney... You get a choice .. to fit your budget. To fit your test needs. You get versatility, flexibility, the ability to expand and adapt.

INTERNATIONAL 5612 Brighton Terrace

Kansas City, Missouri 64130 Telephone (816) 444-9700 Telex Number 42-6149

And remember, when you choose DIT-MCO you have chosen Number One. Too New to be Copied... So new you won't find anything like it available anywhere else. System 8210 incorporates all the "state of the art" advancements with some new wrinkles only DIT-MCO could provide. So if you are going to look around for a comparison you will just have to compare the systems within the 8210 Series. None of the others come close. Hand in Hand... When you select DIT-MCO equip-ment you have bought not only the hardware and software you also get the Company...our over 25 years leadership in the field, our just rep-utation for treating every customer, big or small, with the same respect and dedicated service. With DIT-MCO you get it all!

Call or Write for Full Information.. A DIT-MCO representative can show you how Series 8210 or any of our complete line of interconnect test systems can accommodate your test requirements. Call or write us for full information.

DIT-MCO — The Difference in Testing...

European Technical Representative Radix House

Central Trading Estate Staines, V1iddlesex,TW18-4-XA

England Telephone (0784) 51444 Telex Number 935023

New products

as a root-mean-square-responding power meter over the frequency range from 200 hertz to 4.5 mega-hertz. In its selective mode, it offers bandwidths of 500 Hz and 1.74 kilo-hertz over the range from 2 kHz to 4.5 MHz. An optional 25-Hz filter extends the range down to 200 HZ. The system's 9003 noise loader is

a simplified version of the Wandel and Goltermann RS-50 white noise source, manufactured in the U. S. by W & G Instruments. It provides a flat noise output across the band from 6 kHz to 12.5 MHz, band-limited by selectable plug-in filters. In addition to two band-limiting filters, the 9003 can accommodate three plug-in band-stop filters and a pre-emphasis network.

Supplied complete with a roll-about cart, the RBTS sells for $5,355 without filters and about $6,600 including filters for a 300-channel communications system. W & G Instruments Inc., 119 Naylon Ave., Livingston, N. J. 07039. Phone (201) 994-0854 [401]

32-channel instrument

analyzes telephone noise

Designed to monitor up to 32 tele-phone lines, the db-621 A multichan-nel distribution analyzer is a stand-alone instrument for the determina-tion of amplitude distribution func-tions for periods that last up to 99 hours. The unit samples each channel 10 times a second, converts the analog sample into a 6-bit binary number, determines which of 64 possible levels that number rep-resents, and adds one count to the register associated with that level. The instrument can thus automati-cally scan its registers and generate


The Mallory Capacitor Help -Force.

Everything to make buying easier for you.

The Help-Force s what we call our expanded product, sales and fulll-service organization. It's organized to make:yom job easier and free you from time-coisuming details n getting the capaciiors you need. Now you can place your large or cus-

tomized orders with our OEM diuect sales force. Or get immediate off-the-shelf delivery through our authorized Mallory distributors. Whichever way you choose, use ou

headquarters services, too, to get the status of your productbn order at the same time: or on-the-phon:e price and delivery quotations And if you have unusual applications, call our product managers. They can recommend the right ca-pacitors to meet your needs. The Mellor/ Help-Force can help you on a

worldwice basis, too. We have distribir.ors al-most everywhere. So if you buy capaci7ors for overseas manufacturing, let us fill your needs either by direct shipmemt or through an author-ized Mallory cistributor.

Let the Mallory Help-Force take some of the weight off your shoulders. Call yoir local

Mallory sales representative. Or Help-Force headquanlers at (317) 85:6-3731. Mallory, Capacitor Company, a division

of P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc. Bo:x 1284, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206.

MALLORY Circle 187 on reader service card

New products

DELE VAN 1m DEPENDXBILITY DOESN'T COST

There's a lot more than meets the eye in Delevan's lineup of miniature RF inductors and

transformers. Like the unmatched dependability

built into each component. Thanks to a lot of things that go on at the factory. Hard-nosed quality controls . . complete material analysis

. . . advanced in-plant environmental testing . . . automated techniques for

winding, soldering and molding . . and

conscientious people who take pride in true " no-fault" production. And of course,

the dependable delivery and service you always get from

Delevan.

Remember . . . the proven reliability of these superior made-in-U.S.A. inductive devices means greater reliability for the products and assemblies made from them. Sure, you can save a few pennies by using cheaper components. But this could be expensive in terms of premature failure of the finished product. When your company's reputation is on the line, you can't afford not to use Delevan components. Their premium performance more than justifies their use . . . because Delevan dependability pays for itself. Why not prove it to yourself!

Delevan Division 0 AMERICAN

PRECISION INDUSTRIES INC

270 QUAKER RD./EAST AURORA, N.Y. 14052 TELEPHONE 718/652-3600 TELEX 091-293

OTHER DIVISIONS OF AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES INC

SASCO•OUSTEX•MOELLER INSTRUMENT CO * OXFORD CORP

a distribution function plot ( histo-gram) for the test period. It can also compute and display the long-term root-mean-square level for any chan-nel at any time during the test. Data is displayed on a six-digit light-emit-ting-diode readout, or it can be printed on an accessory column printer. Alternatively, the data can be converted to analog form and plotted on an XY recorder. Metrosonics Inc., P. 0. Box 18090, Roches-

ter, N. Y. 14618. Phone (716) 442-0760

[403]

Acoustic coupler kit

sells for $ 130

The Pennywhistle 103 acoustic cou-pler kit provides half- or full-duplex data communications using ordinary telephones. The kit sells for $ 129.95

plus $3.50 for postage and handling (plus 61/2 % sales tax in California) and has a delivery time of four weeks. A three-stage active filter on the modem eliminates problems caused by harmonics of the signaling frequencies. & R Enterprises, P. 0. Box 61011, Sunny-

vale, Calif. 94088. Phone (408) 738-3772

[404]

Multiplexer puts 31 signals

onto one voice channel

A microprocessor-based analog mul-tiplexing system that accommodates up to 31 independent signals delivers analog outputs at its receiving station with an error of no more than 0.35% of full scale. Connection between the transmitting station and the receiver is by means of a single


Four very small ways to improve on your PC design. With four types of switches—rockers, pushbuttons, toggles and DIPs—Cutler-Hammer offers one of the industry's broadest and most unique selections of PC subminiatures.

Each of the hundreds of available styles provides the reli-ability you've come to expect from Cutler-Hammer. With ratings to 6 amps, each conforms to standard circuit board mounting requirements.

PC switches, along with accessories and decorative hardware, are distributor stocked for local availability. And since most are manufactured in the United States, we offer fast reaction time on solder lug and wire wrap terminal variations, as well.

To improve your next design in any number of small ways, contact your Cutler-Hammer Sales Office or Switch Distributor.

/ Switch to 140.1 CUTLER—HAMMER sPEciAur PRODUCTS DIVISION Mdwaukee, Wm 53201


IINATSU'S NEW 15MHz DUALBTRACE

OSCILLOSCOPE FOR MULTIPURPOSE

APPLICATIONS

As a leading supplier for a wide range of high quality test and measuring

instruments — such as an Oscilloscope (350 MHz real-time, 18 GHz

sampling), a Logic Scope (8 channels, 100 MHz clock frequency), a Digital Memoriscope ( 10 ns/word writing speed) and a Frequency

Counter (550 MHz) — lwatsu presents this newly developed multi-purpose Oscilloscope SS-5212 utilizing a lower frequency band. The

SS-5212 provides a host of features that cannot be compared with

those oscilloscopes in the same frequency band class.

Features: 1. Single sweep with variable illumination

2. 1 mV/div at dual-trace (7 MHz)

3. Alternate trigger 4. Trigger hold-off

5. High sensitivity X-Y ( 1 mV/div)

• New Digital Memoriscope DMS-510

1. 10 MHz scope with a memory

of 8 bit x 1 k, 1 ps/word 2. Dual-display ( memory + real-

time) 3. Pre-trigger display

• New 250 MHz scope SS-5321 1. Bright and sharp display 2. 3-trace display

3. Alternate sweep 4. Enhanced function

Visit our booths 1119 and 1121 at MIDCON/77

Let., IWATSLI ELECTRIC CO., IIVVASAKI TSUSHINKI K.K.) ASAHISEIMEI BLDG., 1-3, NIHONBASHI 2-CHOME, CHUO-KU, TOKYO, 103 JAPAN TEL: TOKYO 1272) 0461 CABLE ADDRESS TELEPHIWATSU TELEX: J24225 TELEIWA

New products

voice channel. The system is mod-ular, being built up from one-, two-, three-, and four-channel transmitter and receiver modules. A basic one-channel system sells for $650, while a four-channel setup goes for $ 1,125. Thus a 31-channel system would sell for something approaching $9,000. For complete details, ask for PDS-480. Sparling Division, Envirotech Corp., 4097 N.

Temple City Blvd., El Monte, Calif. 91731. Phone (213) 444-0571 [405]

Data monitor operates up to

100,000 bits per second

The Epiview data-communications line monitor is an inexpensive instru-ment that accepts full-duplex data in either synchronous or asynchronous modes at rates up to 100,000 bits per second. In its standard configura-tion, Epiview displays data on an integral 5-inch cathode-ray tube, with selected segments highlighted by character blinking or reverse imaging. In addition to providing a real-time display, the unit can be

190 Circle 190 on reader service card Electronics/October 27 1977

a Gd,—( Yb Pr ( Er

e Tb,- Lu Nd Tm

DY Sm

Ho Th Eu

all gra

ranging

up to

99.9999z purity further information, please send your name and address with the reference : [077.301

U. S. A.

)dia inc micals Division - P.O. Box 125, Monmouth Junction, NEW JERSEY 08852 ( USA), Tel. 201-846-7700, Telex 84452 other countries ,- 9 e-poulenc 5ne-poulenc (CF/PSP) 21, rue J. Goujon, F-75 360 PARIS CEDEX 08, Tel. ( 1) 256-40 00, Telex 640 100 F

Circle 191 on reader service car

1977Answer Book. It makes your job easier. $25.

"WHO MAKES WHAT?"

"WHERE ARE THEIR NEAREST SALES OFFICES?"

\ "WHO ARE THEIR

DISTRIBUTORS?"

"N.% 110 / ‘Nl %( ut RES

THIS IR 1.1)1.:

(See Directory of Trade Names)

"WHAT COMPANIES MAKE THE PRODUCTS I NEED?"

(See alphabetical directory of 4000 products)

/ "WHAT ARE THEIR LOCAL PHONE

NUMBERS?" (See alphabetical

directory of over 5000

manufacturers)

"HOW CAN I GET THEIR CURRENT

CATALOGS FAST?" (See directory of catalogs by product and by company,

including catalog inquiry cards for 5-second ordering)

Electronics Buyers' Guide 1221Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10020

Yes, send me a copy of Electronics Buyers' Guide. I've enclosed $25 (USA and Canada only, elsewhere send $35). Full money back guarantee if returned within 10 days.

Name

Company

Street

New products

connected to an Epitape recorder, which stores data for later analysis. A single Epiview instrument sells for $3,300. Epicom Inc., 592 N. Douglas Ave., Alta-

monte Springs, Fla. 32701. Phone Roy

Ostrander at (305) 869-5000 [406]

Fast-synchronizing modem

runs at 1,200 and 2,400 b/s

The 2400 LSI data modem is a fast-synchronizing device intended for operation at 1,200 and 2,400 bits per second over two- or four-wire dedi-cated lines or over the dial-up network. Its fast synchronization suits it well for applications in multi-station polled networks and point-to-point communications. Built-in local digital and analog loopback diag-nostic capabilities reduce the time required to localize system malfunc-tions. To further simplify its use, a built-in test-pattern generator and receiver pattern detecter are in-cluded for both installation and troubleshooting. No external test

equipment is required to install or troubleshoot the modem. When operating over the direct

distance dial network, automatic answer circuits enable unattended call answering if a type cus or CBT data coupler is used. In the auto answer mode, an answer tone of 2,025 hertz is generated for 3 seconds to switch over type 801 devices or to alert manual calling stations of call completion, depend-ing on the application. In singles, the dedicated-line version of the 2400 LSI sells for $789. Penril Corp., 5520 Randolph Rd., Rockville,

Md. 20852. Phone (301) 881-8151 [407] City State Zip

L_ -J

192 Circle 193 on reader service card —

L58 A LAMBDA EL 1N 'CS

LAMBDA EXPANDS LN SERIES POWER SUPPLIES

WITH TWO NEW DUAL OUTPUT MODELS.

LND-P-MPU +5Vg14.0A 9-12VEt2.5A

MPU COMPATIBLE WITH OV ON EACH OUTPUT

I

$245

LND-P-152 DUAL TRACKING -±15V (Cc. 5.3A

to -± 12V @ 4.6A

$240

Guaranteed 5 years

Now: 5 Package Sizes • 42 Single, Dual and MPU Models • Up to 28 Volts. Up to 22 Amps • Meet MIL STD-810C requirements • Listed in UL recognized component index • Designed to meet VDE Specs. • For OEM, Industrial and Military

applications. "All LN Series Power Supplies can je used

with or without cover."

LIN series power su OEM, industrial and

5 Package Sizes, 40 Models Regulation Single, Dual, — mpu line and load 0.1% compatible models up to 28 volts up to 22 amps

Ripple and Noise 1 5 mV rms, 5mV pk-pk

Tested and Meets All These MIL STD-810C Requirements

USED WITHOUT COVERS

Dual Input 105-127 VAC, 47-440 Hz, 210-254 VAC, 47-440 Hz

Designed for Listing in UL Recognized Component Index

• Low Temperature . . . Method 502.1 Procedure I • tkbration • High Temperature . . . Method 501.1 Procedure I & II • Shock • Low Pressure Method 500.1 Procedure 1 • Temperature Shock . • Humidity Method 507.1 Procedure I & II • Fungus

• Temperature — Altitude Method 502.1 Procedure I Class 2 (0°C operating)

Method 514.2 Method 516.2 Method 503.0 Method 508.1

Procedure X, XI Procedure I Procedure I Procedure I

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â LAMBDA MIL-T-27C Grade 6 Transformer layer-wound with electrostatic shield

MIL-W-16878 Wire

A LAMBDA Perforated 0.075 inch Thick Steel Cover

Thermostat - automatically resets when overtemperature condition is eliminated

Sprague 602D high temperature, premium computer grade hermetically sealed electrolytic capacitor

A LAMBDA LAS-1100 monolithic voltage regulator ( T0-96)

Sprague 601D, 672D high temperature, long life electrolytic capacitors

&LAMBDA CC4®* Printed Circuit Board plated thru-holes fungus inert, flame retardant

N Series imum repair time

MIL-R-22684 type film resistors

MIL-R-26 type wire-wound resistors

A LAMBDA New Monolithic Overvoltage Protector L-6-0V

A LAMBDA New Monolithic Full Wave Center-tap Rectifier (T0-3) PMR-27, PMR-31

A LANII31).-‘ PMD-10K, 12K Series 200'C Darlington Transistor series pass transistors ( T0-3)

Heavy-duty Screw Input-Output Connectors

Potentiometer fully enclosed cermet

A LAMBDA Heavy Duty 1/8 inch Thick Aluminum Sheet Metal

5 VOLTS ± 5% ADJ, 9V-12V ADJ

REGULATION RIPPLE

MODEL (LINE OR LOAD) (RMS) VDC. 40°C 50°C 60°C 71 °C

LND X-MPU ( 3) 01% 1.5 5±5% 7.0( 5.95) 9-12 1.2(1.02)

LND-P-MPU (3) 0.1% 1.5 5±5% 14.0(13-3)

9-12 2.5(2-38)

VOLTAGE AND CURRENT RATINGS

DUAL OUTPUT

VOLT ' MAX CURRENT AMPS AT

6.0(5.11) 4.7(4.0) 3.2(2.72)

1. 1( 0-94) 1.0(0.85) 0.8(0.68)

12.2( 11-59) 10.0( 9-5) 7.5( 7-13) 2.2( 2-09) 1.8(1.71) 1.35(1.28)

± 15 VOLTS TO ± 12 VOLTS ADJ DUAL TRACKING

PKG DIMENSIONS (2)

SIZE (INCHES) PRICE

X 7 x 4 7/8 x 2 7/8 $172

P 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32 245

LND-Z-152

LND-Y-152

LND-X-152

LND-W-152

LND-P-152

5 VOLTS ± 5% ADJ

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

REGULATION RIPPLE MODEL (LINE OR LOAD) (RMS)

±15 to ± 12 ± 15 to ± 12 ± 15 to ± 12 ± 15 to ± 12 ± 15 to ± 12

0.6(0-54) 0.6( 3.54) 1.4(1. 20) 1.2(1.02) 2.5(2.13) 2 3(1.96)

3.3( 3.0) 3.1(2.8)

5.3(5.04)

4.6( 4-37)

0.55(°. 5) 0.55(0.5) 1.2(1.02)

1.1(0.94)

2.1( 1-79) 1.9(1.62) 3.1(2.8)

2.8(2.52) 4.7(4.47

4.0 ( 3.80)

0.45(0.41)

0 45(0.41) 0.9(0.77)

0.8(0.65) 1.6(1. 37) 1.4(1.2) 2.6( 2.34) 2.3(2.07)

39(3.71) 3 3(3.14)

0.3(0.27) 0.3(0.27)

0.6( 0.51) 0.5(0.43)

1.1(0-94) 0.9(037) 2.0( 1-5) 1.6(1.44) 2 .9(2.76) 25(2.38)

Z 4 7/8 x 4 x 1 3/4 $ 85

Y 5 5/8 x 4 7/8 x 2 5/8 120

X 7 x 4 7/8 x 2 7/8 150

W 9 x 5 x 2 7/8 170

P 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32 240

SINGLE OUTPUT

(1)MAX CURRENT AMPS AT PKG

40°C 50°C 60°C 71 °C SIZE DIMENSIONS 12)

(INCHES) PRICE

LNS-Z-5-0V 0.15% LNS-Y-5-0V 0.1% LNS.X-5-0V 0.1% LNS-W-5-0V 0.1% LNS-P-5-0V 0.1%

6 VOLTS ± 5% ADJ

1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

3.0( 2.7) 6.0( 5.4) 10.0(5.5) 14.0( 11-9) 22.0( 20.9)

2.2(2- 41 2 3(2.1) 1.2(1.5)

5.1( 4-6) 4.2( 3-8) 3.1( 2-8) 8.9(7.6) 7.3(6.2) 5.3(4.5)

12.2( 10.4) 10.0( 5.5) 7.5( 6-4) 19.5(18.53) 163(15.68) 13.0(12.35)

Z 4-7/8 x 4 x 1-3/4 Y 5-5/8 x 4-7/8 x 2-5/8 X 7 x 4-7/8 x 2-7/8 W 9 x 5 x 2-7/8 P 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32

$ 80 115 140 175 220

LNS-Z-6 LNS-Y-6 LNS-X-6 LNS-W-6 LNS-P-6

0.15% 2.2(2-0) 1.9(1.7) 2 .6n 1..91 21.3) 0.1% 1.5 2.5(2-25) 1.5 5.6( 5-0) 4.9( 4.4) 4.0( 34)

0.1% 1.5 9.5(8.1) 8.4(7.15) 7.1(6-0) 6.0(4.25)

0.1% 1.5 13.0(11.0) 11.2( 9.5) 9.3( 7-9) 6.8( 5.9)

0.1% 1.5 20.5( 19-48) 18.1( 17-2) 15.3( 14.54) 12.0( 11.4)

12 VOLTS ± 5% ADJ

Z 4-7/8 x 4 x 1-3/4 5-5/8 x 4 7/8 x 2-5/8

X 7 x 4-7/8 x 2-7/8 W 9 x 5 x 2 7/8 P 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32

$ 75 110 130 165 200

LNS-Z-12 LNS-Y-12 LNS-X-12 LNS-W-12 0.1% LNS-P-12 0.1%

15 VOLTS ± 5% ADJ

0.15% 0.1% 0.1%

1.5 1.7( 1-55) Z 31i65((31..4155)) 21..95((21..46))

21.23((21:02)) Y 1.5 4.0(161 1.5 6.5( 5.5) 5.5(4.7) 4.5(3.8) 3.3(2.8) X 1.5 8.5( 7.2) 7.2( 6.1) 5.9(5.0) 4 2(3-6) W 1.5 14.0( 13-3) 12.4( 11-8) 10.0(9-5) P 7 3(6.94)

4-7/8 x 4 x 1.3/4 5-5/8 x 4-7/8 x 2-5/8 7 x 4.7/8 x 2-7/8 9 x 5 x 2-7/8 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32

$ 75 110 130 165 200

LNS Z- 15 LNS-Y-15 LNS-X-15 LNS W-15 LNS-P-15

0.15% 1.5 1.4( 1-3) 1.3( 1-62) 1.2(1-1) 1.0(0.9) Z 0.1% 1.5 3.4( 3.1) 3.1( 2.8) 2.6( 2.35) 2.0(1.8) Y

0.1% 1.5 5.5( 4-7) 4.8(4-1) 3.9( 3-35) 2.8(2.4) X 0.1% 1.5 7.7(8.55) 6.7(5.7) 5.5(4.7) 3.8(3.15) W 0.1% 1.5 12.0( 11.4) 10.6(10-1) 8.5(8.1) 6.3(6.0) P

20 VOLTS ± 5% ADJ

4 7/8 x 4 x 1-3/4

5-5/8 x 4-7/8 x 2-5/8 7 x 4-7/8 x 2-7/8 9 x 5 x 2-7/8 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32

$ 75 110 130 165 200

LNS-Z-20

LNS-Y-20 LNS-X-20 LNS-W-20 LNS-P-20

24 VOLTS ± 5% ADJ

0.15% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1%

1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

1.0(0.69) 2 7(2.45)

4.4( 3.75) 6.1( 5-2) 10.0(9.5)

0.85(0.77) 2.5(2.25)

3.6( 3.1)

8.9(8.46)

0.65( 0-59) 2.0( 1.05) 2.6( 2.2) 4.2( 3-6) 7.5(7.13)

0.45(0.41)

1.3(1.2) 1.6( 1.4)

3.0( 2-5) 5.5(5.23)

Z 4-7/8 x 4 x 1-3/4 Y 5-5/8 x 4-7/8 x 2-5/8 X 7 x 4-7/8 x 2-7/8 W 9 x 5 x 2-7/8 P 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32

$ 75 110 130 165 200

LNS-Z 24

LNS-Y-24 LNS-X-24 LNS-W-24 LNS-P-24

0,15% 1.5 0.9( 0-81) 0.75( 0.68) 0.0 0.66) 0.4(0.36) 1 0.1% 1.5 2.3( 2-1) 2.1(1.9) 1.7( 1-5) 1,1(1.0) Y 0.1% 1.5 3.8( 3.25) 3.2( 2.75) 2.4( 2.0) 1.4( 1.62) X

0.1% 1.5 5.4( 4-8) 4.6( 3-9) 3.7( 3-1) 2.5(2.1) W 0.1% 1.5 9.0(5.55) 8.0(7.6) 6.7(6.37) 5.0(4.75) P

28 VOLTS ± 5% ADJ

4 7/8 x 4 x 1 3/4 5 5/8 x 4-7/8 x 2-5/8

7 x 4-7/8 x 2-7/8 9 x 5 x 2-7/8

11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32

$ 75 110 130 165

200

LNS-Z-28 LNS-Y-28 LNS-X 28 LNS-W-28 LNS-P-28

NOTE: 1. 2. 3.

0.15% 1.5 0.1% 1.5 0.1% 1.5

0.1% 1.5 0.1% 1.5

o 8(0-76) 2.0( 1.8) 3.4( 2-9) 4.7(4.0)

8.0(7-6)

0.65(0.6)

1.8( 1.65)

2.9(2-5) 4.0(3.4) 7.1(6.75)

0 .5( 0.45)

1.5(1.35)

2.2( 1-5) 3.2( 2.75) 6.0( 5.7)

9.36(0.32)

1.0(0.9) 1.2( 1-0)

2.2( 1.9) 4.5(4.28)

1 4-7/8 x 4 x 1-3/4 Y 5-5/8 x 4-7/8 x 2-5/8 X 7 x 4-7/8 x 2-7/8 W 9 x 5 x 2-7/8 P 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32

Hating in Parenthesis for LN Series when cover is used Dimensions include cover

Includes OV protection on both outputs (5V OV trip point is 6.6 ± .2V fixed; 9-12V OV trip points is 13.7 ± .4V fixed)

$ 75 110 130 165 200

SPECIFICATIONS OF LN SERIES

DC Output Voltage range shown in tables Regulated Voltage regulation, line

regulation, load ripple and noise

0 1% (0.15% for LN-Z) 01% (0.15% for LN-Z) 1 5mv RMS, 5mV pk-pk with either positive or negative termi-nal grounded.

temperature coefficient 0 03% /°C

resistance 200 ohms per volt nominal

remote programming voltage volt per volt

remote programming

AC Input line 105-127 VAC, 210-254 VAC

(by transformer tap change) 47-440 Hz. Consult factory for operation at frequencies other than 57-63 Hz.

Efficiency ( Typical) . . 30%-5V and 6V models, 42% 12V and 15V models, 49%-20V,

24V and 28V models. 42% for

LN duals except LND-MPU which are 34%.

Ambient Operating Temperature Range Continuous duty from 0° to +71 °C with corresponding load current ratings for all modes of operation.

Storage Temperature Range —55°C to 85°C

Overload Protection Electrical External overload protection, automatic electronic current limiting circuit limits the output current to a preset value, thereby providing protection for the load as

well as the power supply. Thermal Thermostat - automatically reset when overtemperature

condition is eliminated. Overshoot No overshoot on turn-on, turn-off or power failure.

Overvoltage Protection Overvoltage protection module crowbars output when trip level is exceeded - standard on all 5V models and

both outputs of models' LND-X-MPU and LND-P-MPU. For other models see back cover.

Input and Output Connections Heavy-duty screw terminals on printed circuit board.

DC Output Controls Simple screwdriver adjustment over the entire voltage

range.

Tracking Accuracy ( Dual Tracking Models Only) 3% absolute voltage difference, 0.2% change for all con-

ditions of line, load and temperature.

Remote Sensing Provision is made for remote sensing to eliminate effect

of power output lead resistance on DC regulation.

Mounting Three Mounting surfaces, three mounting position. One mounting position for LN-P models.

Convection Cooled No external heat sinking or forced air required.

Transformer MIL-T-27C, Grade 6; Electrostatic shield; 4000 VAC input/output isolation.

Isolation Rating Minimum 10 Megohm isolation from DC to ground at

ground at 1000 VDC.

Fungus Proof No fungi mutt lent material used.

Military Specifications The LNS series has passed the following tests in accor-dance with MI L-STD-810C

1) Low Pressure - Method 500.1, Procedure I.

2) High Temperature - Method 501.1, Procedure I & II. 3) Low Temperature - Method 502.1, Procedure I. 4) Temperature Shock - Method 503.0, Procedure I.

5) Temperature- Altitude -- Method 504.1, Procedure I. Class 2 (0°C operating)

6) Humidity - Method 507.1, Procedures I & II.

7) Fungus - Method 508.1, Procedure I. 8) Vibration - Method 514.2, Procedures X & X I.

9) Shock - Method 516.2, Procedures I & Ill.

MIL-I-6181D - Conducted and radiated EMI with one

output terminal grounded.

Physical Data Weight

Package Lbs. Lbs. Model Net Ship

N 3 3-1/4

LN-Y b 5-1/2

LN -X 7-3/4 8-1/4

LN-W 9 9-1/2

LN-P 14 15-1/2

LND-P 15-1/2 17 Finish Gray, Fed. Std. 595 No. 26081.

ULNDE Designed for listing in UL Recognized Components

Index. Designed for listing in VDE Index.

Accessories Overvoltage protectors (standard on 5V models and models LND-X-MPU and LND-P-MPU).

Guaranteed for 5 Years 5-year guarantee includes labor as well as parts. Guarantee applies to operation at full published

specifications at end of 5 years.

Size Inches

4-7/8 x 4 x 1-3/4 (w/cover) 4-7/8 x 4 x 1-5/8 (w/o cover)

5-5/8 x 4-7/8 x 2-5/8 (w/cover) 5-5/8 x 4-7/8 x 2-1/2 (w/o cover) 7 x 4-7/8 x 2-7/8 (w/cover)

7 x 4-7/8 x 2-3/4 (w/o cover)

9 x 5 x 2-7/8 (w/cover) 9 x 4-7/8 x 2-3/4 (w/o cover) 11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32 (w & w/o cover)

11 x 4-7/8 x 4-13/32 (w & w/o cover)

6 Amp Monolithic OV Protectors $5.00 Qty 1 $3.40 Qty 1000

TO-3 PACKAGE, NO EXTERNAL COMPONENTS NEEDED

LAMBDA OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTORS L-6-0V, L- 12-0V, L-20-0V, L-35-0V Series

General Description

The Lambda overvoltage protector prevents damage to the load caused by excessive power supply output voltage due to improper adjust-ment, improper connection, or failure of the power supply. Load protection is accomplished automatically by effectively short circuiting the output terminals of the power supply when a preset limit voltage has been exceeded. The trip-point limit voltage cannot be adjusted. To

reset overvoltage protector, remove AC input to power supply allow overvoltage protector to cool, and reapply power.

Overvoltage Protector Performance Specifications

PARAMETER SYMBOL

L-6-0V SERIES

L- 12-0V SERIES

L-20-0V SERIES

L.35-0V SERIES

MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX

On Stan Current IOC 6A 12A 20A 354

On State Voltaga 1/pc 25V - 1.3V 1.4V 1.6V

Non. Repetitive Peek Surge Current '

I P

70A 2004 260A 350A

Standby Current IS

- 25mA - 5mA - 5rnA - 5mA

Opi2:crekii41.1..".""'" 7,9 -40°C •100°C -40°C .100°C -40°C .100°C -40°C •100°C

Operating Temperature (Conducting) •••

Tcc e

-40 C e

.150 C e

-40 C e

.140 C e

-40 C e

.140 C e

-40 C e

.140 C

Storage Temperature T5 -40.c .150°C -40°C •125°C -40°C .125°C -40°C .125°C

Point Dissipation 1125°C Ceres 1111.5WrC now 50°C

P, 150 Wens

Thermal Resistance Rog 1.ifcrw

NOM SUPPLY TRIP POINT VOLTAGE VOLTAGE (VOLTS) (VOLTS)

• For sinusoidal current duration of 8.3 milliseconds max.

**Case temperature for overvoltage protector in non-con-

ducting or " OFF" state.

•• " Case temperature for overvoltage protector in conducting

or " ON" state. Power must be removed and case tempera-

ture allowed to drop to 100°C before application of out-

put voltage.

The overvoltage protector must be mounted on external

heat sink to maintain case temperature below rated limit.

When the overvoltage protector is used with a Lambda power

supply, the power supply chassis acts as the heat sink. The

L- 12-0V, L-20-0V, L-35-0V, overvoltage protector is supplied

with mating connectors for pins on overvoltage protector (+V

and -V engraved on unit).

OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTORS PRICE

6 AMP OTY CITY OTY CITY 12 AMP MODELS 1 100 250 1000 MODE LS

PRICE OTY OTY OTY 1 100 250

PRICE OTY 20 AMP cav on, cry ()Ty 1000 MODELS 1 100 250 1000

PRICE 35 AMP OTY OTY OTY OTY MODELS 1 100 250 1000

5

6 9

10

12

15 18

20 24

28 30

VOLTAGE TOLERANCE MAINTAINED OVER 0 71 .0 DUE TO POWER DESIGN

6.6 t .2 7.3 ± .2

10.5 t 4

11.02.5

13.7 0.4

17.0 n.5 2es.±1.0 22.6 ± .7 27.3 t .6 31.9 1.0

33.5 1 1.0

L-6-0V-5

L 0-0V-6 L 6 OV 9

L 60V 10

L-6-0V-12 L-6-0V-15

L 60V 18 L-6-0V-20 L-6-0V-24 L b 017-2/1

5 5

5

5 5 5 5

$4 4 4

4

4

4

4

$3.75 3.75 3.75

3.75

3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75

3.75

63.40 1211V 1 611

3.40 L 12 OV-r, 11 3.40 It Chi 11

3.40

3.40 L 1/.0V ,12 11 3.40 L 120V I': 11

3.40 3.40 3.40

3.40

L 2.0V 23, 11 ey 14

L 12 ,0V-15

L 11 OV•IV

TO 3

L6 OV

MONOLITHIC

L- 12-0V

11

11 11 11

se 8 a

67.50 7.50 7.50

86.80 6.80 6.80

2.1.0v I, 616 511.20 610.50 $9.50 L•10-0V-6 16 11.20 10.50 9.50

e 7.50 6.80 L-20-0V-12 16 11.20 10.50

8 7.50 6.80 L-20-0V-15 16 11.20 10.50

e e e e

7.50

7.50 7.50

7.50

6.80

6.80 6.80 6.80

1-1/2 x 11/16 x 3/4 ( inches)

L-20-0V-20 L- 20-0V-24

L 20 OV 28 L 20 (11) 3,,

16

16 16

16

11.20 11.20 11.20

11 20

L-20-0V L-35-0V

10.50 10.50 10.50

10.50

620 614.40 $13.60 $12.30 ,i, I, 20 14.00 13.60 12.30

9.50 I IV 12 20 1.1.40 13.60 9.50

9.50 9.50 9.50

9.50

+v

«lb

3-3/8 x 15/32 x 19/32 ( inches)

12.30

ALambda staffed sales and service offices

o MID-ATLANTIC REGION Melville, New York 11748 515 Broad Hollow Road

Tel 516 694 4200 TWX 510 224 6484

Long Island, N.Y.; New York, N.Y.. Northern New Jersey Tel 516-694-4200

Delaware; Eastern Pennsylvania.

Southern New Jersey Tel 215 279 5644

Maryland; Dist. of Columbia;

Northern Virginia

Tel 703 451 9340

Southern Virginia; North & South Carolina;

Alabama; Georgia; Tennessee; Mississippi

Tel 704 541 1991

Largo. Florida

Tel 813 596 5151

e NORTH-EASTERN REGION

Lexington, Massachusetts 02173 2 Militia Dove

Tel 617 861 8585 TWX 710 326 7558

Rochester, New York Tel 716 454 6770

Poughkeepsie, New York

Tel 914 297 4800

e SOUTH -WESTERN REGION

Dallas. Texas 75231 6950 Winchester Tel 214 341 5130 TWO 910 861 9048

Houston. Texas Tel 713 464 6554

Oklahoma T i>, Enterprise 2 183

o MID-WESTERN REGION

Arlington Heights, III. 60005

2420 East Oakton St . Und Tel 312 593 2550 TWX 910 222 2856

Minneapolis, Minnesota Tel 612 935 6194

Cleveland, Ohio. Western Pennsylvania

1,8 216 565 7608

e FAR-WESTERN REGION

Carson, Calif 90746 20601 S Annuler Ase

Tel 213-537-8341 TWO 910-346.7649

Denver. Colorado Tel 303-779-9561

o NORTH-WESTERN REGION Sunnyvale. Califorma 94086

599 N Mathilde Ave Suite 210 Tel 408 738 2541 TWX 910 339 9243

LAMBDA MANUFACTURING PLANTS Melville, N.Y.

1›,,t I 515 Broad Hollow Rd II 1770 Welt Whornan Rd Reynosa, Mexico

Corpus Christi. Texas 121 International Dr

A LAMBDA HI"I'ItONICS

PRINTED IN USA

Interconnection with Japan

We are not thinking of a sub-marine cable across the Pacific. The non-stop flights available now are definitely an ideal way to get there, but, if you are involved in electronics, you will probably find yourself with a plug in your hands and no place to plug it in.

Why not leave aside the long exchanges of letters of inquiry, the overseas calls with words sounding quite clear but with meanings you can't really grasp.

More than 35,000 readers of Nikkei Electronics, a biweekly maga-

zine published in Japanese, are a selective choice of decision makers in all the branches that may interest you in the industry. Interconnection in the sense of the word that leads to good, profitable business. That is the business we are in and that is what we have to

Japan's foremost electronics publication

Nikkei Electronics NIKKEI-McGRAW-HILL, INC. The publisher of Nikkei Electronics Wataru Makishima, Manager, Advertising. Nikkei Annex Bldg. 2-1-2, Uchi-Kanda, Chiyada-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Telex: J26296 NKMCGRAW

offer you. Japan needs the other advanced

nations for the very life of its electron-ics industry and you will find Nikkei Electronics to be just that kind of interconnection that will open wide the doors to the success you considered impossible.

Subscriptions: 35,284 (as of May 16th,1977) Regularly audited by the Japan ABC.

For further information, write to: H.T.Howland, Marketing Services Manager, Electronics, McGraw-Hill Publications Co., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York,

N.Y. 10020, U.S.A. Tel: (212) 997-6642

SOLVED! YOUR

BUS-RELATED DATA

RECORDING PROBLEMS

With Dylon's new GPIB (IEEE-488) tape recorders, you can now transfer data directly from the Bus to V2"magnetic tape. With NO interfacing. Just plug it in. Once on tape, data may be

transferred to your computer for analysis. Or it can be read back through the Bus to any GPIB— compatible minicomputer or calculator.

There's more. Much more. To find out how Dylon GPIB tape

recorders can solve Bus-related recording problems in your data collection system, please call or write our director of marketing.

Mylon The Dylon Corporation

3670 Ruffin Road San Diego, California 92123

(714) 292-5584

New products

Industrial

Monitor offers dual set-points

Six-channel temperature

unit provides alarm and

shutdown control functions

Back in the dark ages, when solid state was represented by something that tinkled in a highball glass, temperature monitors lacked both dual setpoints and front-panel ad-justments. In a typical application, the user wanted, and still wants, his intrumentation to respond to two temperatures. At the lower one he wants an alarm to sound or a light to indicate possible trouble; at the higher one he wants automatic shut-down. If he can't get a dual-setpoint monitor, he will need two monitors

per point— an expensive proposition. A second annoying aspect of early

monitors was their method of cali-bration. A resistance decade box was substituted for the resistance tem-perature detector (RTD), and the monitor was adjusted to read cor-rectly at known resistances. The problem with this approach is that the sensor can be located hundreds or even thousands of feet from the monitor.

Enter the Omniguard 6106 six-channel temperature monitor. Since the unit is a dual-setpoint instru-ment, it provides all the necessary monitoring for six points with no need for doubling up. The 6106 can monitor six separate

two- or three-wire copper, nickel, or platinum RTDS continuously and simultaneously. A digital display can be set to show the alarm and shut-down set points for each channel as well as the actual RTD temperatures. Each channel has its own electrome-chanical shutdown relay with iso-

Electronics/October 27, 1977 204 Circle 204 on reader service card

IL-101 100 ns IL-100 65 ns

The easy way to cut noise in data transmission. Ultra-fast opto-isolators!

You can transmit data at 5 megabits per second. Eliminate noise pick-up problems in nearly all hard-wired data transmission

systems. And do it all very simply. No elaborate shielding or conduit. No pulse

transformers. Just an 8-pin DIP that connects directly to standard TTL circuits and operates on a 5-volt supply.

You get a typical propagation delay of only 65 ns with our IL- 100. And 100 ns with our IL- 101.

Both have UL approval, a Faraday shielded photodetector to maximize common mode rejection, a 3-state output for convenient multiplexing, a built-in Schmitt trigger to prevent oscillation, and an isolation rating of 1500 VDC.

Litronix produces 23 opto-isolators: photo-transistor and photo-Darlington in single. dual and quad packages, JEDEC types 4N25, 4N25A, 4N26, 4N27, 4N28 and devices with isolation voltages over 4000 VDC.

Tell me more For more data on IL- 100. IL- 101 and other opto-isolators phone (408) 257-7910 or send coupon.

NAME TITLE

ORGANIZATION

ADDRESS

ZIP PHONE

Mail to Litronix, Dept. E, 19000 Homestead Road, Cupertino, CA 95014. Phone (408) 257-7910.

ilmnix Electronics/October 27, 1977 Circle 205 on reader service card

l ints-L1Bels-Multiple

VICTOR

has the printer for you.

Àrniim Applications:

Pharmacy Systems Inventory Control Hospital Systems Ticket Printing Label Printing

Victor now offers a line of sprocke: feed printers for printing labels, tickets, pre- pr nted forms or any otner application requiring precise or heavy duty paper feed.

The 5000-463 series offers you three choices of interface: parallel; RS232C or TTY current loop. This allows the printer to be connected directly to most computers or microprocessors.

The printer prints 64 ASCII alphanumeric and symbolic characters. By sending the proper command code, cnaracters can be expanded, printed in red or both for highlighting or headlining.

There are no moving parts when the unit is not printing which keeps the noise level down and increases reliability since the printer is not wearing itself out while stting idle.

The dot matrix printing mechanism in Me sprocket feed printer is similar to those usec in almost 500 000 Victor print mechanisms in use today

John Tulio Victor Comptometer Corporation 3900 N. P.ockwell Street Chicago, Illinois 60618 312-539-8200 Send Tecurscal Literature USprocket Feed Printers D All Victor's Print Mechan.sms

Name_ _

Company__

Clty State

_Phone

PUCI1 0 The 5000 series allows interfacing with RS232C, 8-bit parallel or TTY current loop. Options include sprocket feed and 230 volt operation.


1977 Answer Book. It makes your job easier. $25. Who makes what? Over 4000 products, more than 5000 manufacturers with their local contracts and distributors, directory of trade names and catalogs, post-paid inquiry cards for 5-second ordering of current catalogs.

206

Electronics Buyers' Guide 1221 Ave. of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10020 Yes, send me a copy of The Answer Book. I've enclosed $25 ( USA and Canada only, elsewhere send $35). Full money back guarantee if returned within 10 days. Name

Company

Street

Lc" State Zip

New products

lated single-pole single-throw con-tacts. In addition, a seventh relay is activated if there is an alarm.

Each channel has its own indi-cator light for alarm signals and a second light that goes on when the channel is shut down. Once a channel goes into a fault mode, be it alarm or shutdown, a reset switch must be pressed to get it out of that mode. Removing the fault condition is not enough. Automatic reset is available as an option.

Other key features of the Omni-guard 6106 include linearizing cir-cuitry that normalizes each channel for a specific RID and failsafe opera-tion that causes the output relays to open up if the monitor loses power. And for those people who still do not like digital readouts, analog meters are available as an option. The price of the standard six-

channel monitor with a digital display is approximately $ 1,400. Small quantities are available from stock, with large orders requiring six weeks. The instrument is expected to be stocked in large quantities by January. Edison Electronics, McGraw-Edison Co.,

Grenier Field Municpal Airport, Manchester,

N.H. 03103. Phone Kent Threlfall at (603)

669-0940 [371]

Object detector has

diameter of 0.25 inch

A subminiature source/receiver, consisting of a light-emitting diode and a photodetector, is designed to detect the presence or absence of objects in a wide variety of industrial applications. Packaged in a rugged, watertight, stainless-steel housing that measures 0.25 inch in diameter by 1.5 in. in length, the sensor has an operating range of 25 feet in the


Action! It made us the leader in electronic equis rentals.

When you call Electro Rent, expect action.

Our representatives are action- oriented specialists who can answer your questions quickly and get you the necessary equipment in hours.

We back them up witn the nation's largest electronic equipment inventory and a network of service centers from coast to coast.

Find out why more people rent or lease their electronic equipment from the leader. Call as

or a free catalog. Or write Ou r Marketing now for equipment applications assistance

Manager at: Electro Rent, 4131 Vanowen Place, Burbank, CA 91505.

Call toll-free 800-423-2337 for immediate action! ElectroRent In California call 800-232-2173 A Telecc. Company

Interested in buying quality useo equipment? Ask for our Equipment Sales Division. Circle 207 on reader service card

TOTAL FREQUENCY CONTROL

FROM ERIE • HIGH FREQUENCY AT CRYSTALS

Erie AT Crystals are used over the frequency spectrum from 950 kHz to 200 MHz. Low temperature coefficient, extremely high C), economical. Used in TCXO and VCXO oscillators, temperature controlled and, non-controlled oscillators, and filter applications. All size cans.

LOW FREQUENCY CRYSTALS u.

\\,

Low frequency crystals are available from 1 kHz to 1MHz in a broad variety of crystal holders and mounting configurations. Erie is a leading source for all types of high quality, Low Frequency Crystals.

CRYSTAL OSCILLATORS

Erie offers a broad range of economical as well as highly sophisticated Crystal Oscillators. These

small size oscillators are available in a wide range of frequencies. Hermetically sealed crystals assure long term stability. Design assistance available.

CRYSTAL FILTERS Erie quartz crystal filters are specified

for use in communications receivers .

as well as for

radar, sonar

and space

applications.

• ) 1 Write for brochure describing Erie Crystals.

' Filters. Oscillators and Ovens.

ERIE FREQUENCY CONTROL DIV. OF ERIE TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS

Carlisle, Pa, 17013 717 249-2232

New products

transmitted-beam mode and 1 foot in the reflected-beam mode. The UL-recognized device can operate from - 40° to 185°F. To form a working system, the

type 40BY1/47BY1 subminiature sensor combination is used in con-junction with a standard type 22 series 4000 LED photoelectric con-trol, which contains the system modulation and demodulation cir-cuitry, power supply, control logic, and output device. Photoswitch Division, Electronics Corp. of

America, One Memorial Drive, Cambridge,

Mass. 02142. Phone S. L. Davis at (617)

864-8000 [373]

Signal conditioners connect

transducers with instruments

A line of signal-conditioning inter-face units is designed to connect load cells and strain-gage pressure trans-ducers with recording and control instruments. The units amplify the transducer signals and produce eith-er a 4-to-20-milliampere current output or a voltage output of 0 to 1 volt or 0 to 10 v. The units have a maximum nonlinearity of 0.1% and a maximum temperature-induced er-ror of 0.3% of reading per 100°F. Frequency response is within 3 deci-bels from dc to 2 kilohertz. Tyco Instrument Division, 4 Hartwell Pl.,

Lexington, Mass. 02173. Phone (617) 861-

7450 [375]

Precision load cells have

little moment sensitivity

BBP series load cells have a moment-insensitive design that gives them a maximum off-center-load error of 0.05% per inch. The high-accuracy units are available with capacities of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 pounds. They have a minimum rated output of 2 millivolts per volt. Non-linearity is no more than 0.02% of rated output, and repeatability is within 0.01% of rated output. The cells are temperature compensated for operation between 50°F and

World's First Solderless DPM NLS' Thriftmeter PM-350

Unit Quantity- $59 Features Include:

• Three full digits with 100% over-range

(3-1/2 digits). • Accuracy is ±(0. 05%

Rdg. + 0.05% F. S. ). • *0. 2V, ±.2V,

±20V, ±200V or e000V range. • No

zer o adjustment. • Programmable

decimal with automatic polarity and over-

load indication. • Operates from + 4. 5

to -,6vdc@ 1 W. • Large 0.3" LED dis-

play. • Small size: 1" H x 2.5" W x

3.25" D. • Protected input.

Non-Linear Systems, Inc. Ortgonetor of the Ofgitel voltmeter.

Box N. Del Mar, Caldornla 92014 pià vuil Telephone (714) 755.1134 TV« 9103221132


PROFESSIONAL DISCOUNTS

Texas Instruments electronic calculator

II 1750 LCD I•2550 III Little Prot Oataman NEW 115150 T1-5015 NEW 1.1.5050M II-5040PD Tr 30SP Datachp

S19.35 50.40 S23.25 23.25 SR.51 II 47.05 12.55 11-57 NEW 63.00 19.95 71-58 NEW 95.79 38.75 11-59 NEW 219.95 63.00 PC- 100A 147.00 T7.56 'IBA 66.95

U:91 Btrieey sInMyÎ.sjrt 27:90 40 28.09 All Leaves Available

HEWLETT khfl PACKARD We are french's. H-F'clealer All eccessore, ,fiscou.1

HP-10 NEW 8139.00 HP-19C NEW 275.00 HP-21 64.00 HP-22 100.00 HP-25 100.00 HP-25C 128.00

HP-27 HP-29C NEW HP-80 HP-67 HP-91 HP-92 NEW HP-97

$140.00 156.00 235.00 360.00 260.00 500.00 599.00

Also SCM, Olivetti, National Semiconductor, Casio, Canon, Corvus, APF, Sharp, Craig, Sanyo, Record-A-Call and more. ALL AT GREAT PRICES?

Programmable Video Game 812935 FAIRCI-111-0 2000 games possible)

Cartridges .. 17.95 Also Fairchild Watches'

WE WILL BEAT OR MEET ANY COMPETITORS' PRICE IF HE HAS MERCHANDISE ON HAND. An units shoed in original factory cartons with accessories according to manufacturers' specifications in Calif. call (2131370-5795 a CALL(800) 421-0367 leer than CA). Above prices are tor cash only credit card picos differ. BeekAmedcard/VIss & Master Clump accepted. Send money order Pers ck 12 wks to clear): In CA add 6% sales taz Add 63 50 mrn shipping charges. WE SHIP AIR on request. Sues-et to availability Send mail orders to DEPT. WRITE OR CALL FOR FREE CATALOG E PA-J.

t k WILSHIRE - 2 STORES-HAWTHORNE CALL

0

.httrninStS 16611 Hawthorne Blvd..uLawndale. Ca. 90260 (2131 370.5795 (800)421-0367

Circle 208 on reader service card 208 Circle 33 on reader service card

STEPPING MOTOR

A 15-minute course in stepping motor technology. The makers of Slo-Syn® stepping motors and controls bring you another in the series of technical cassette tapes.

A full 15 minutes on the tech-nology of stepping motors:

As digital actuators for high per-formance positioning systems.

As incrementing output devices in microprocessor control systems.

As the alternative to servos, pneumatics or hydraulics for sequencing, rotating, cycling, positioning.

For a modest $5.00, the recog-nized leader in stepping motor technology will move you step by step through the essentials. This cassette covers the subject from maximizing torque during acceleration to damping, stability Electronics/October 27, 1977

and positional accuracy. Stepper control methodology and the applications best suited for either permanent magnet or variable reluctance motor types are dis-cussed in a clear, concise manner. And more. All designed to put your company a step ahead.

A step ahead in positioning.

Superior Electric Bristol CT 06010 (203) 582-9561


Second in a series

I— I Yes, I would like

cassette(s) on stepping motor technology. Encbsed is $ 5.00 (check or money order) for each cassette.

n In addition, send me tape #1

"Stepping motor controls" at $5.00.

Send me new free literature on

Slo-Syn motors and controls.

Name

Title

Company

Street

City

to 1-9 State Zip

GE miniature lamps offer you gigantic design

advantages. With 11 new wedge base GE lamps, you have more choices than ever.

Enjoy new design freedom with this expanded line of GE all-glass wedge base lamps. And keep en-joying the inherent benefits of the line: savings in weight, space, time and costs. GE now offers more than 30 wedge base lamps in three sizes: miniature lamps T-31/4 ( 10 mm diam.) and T-5 ( 15 mm diam.); subminiature lamp T-1 3/4 (6 mm diam.). Voltages range from 2.5 V to 28 V. Candlepower from 0.03 to 21 cd.

Use GE wedge base lamps with confidence for indi-cator, marker and general illumination applications, especially where space is at a premium. You may enjoy lower systems cost than with metal- based lamps and LED's. They're easy to insert and remove; have no sol-dered connections to corrode or break; and the filament is always oriented the same in relation to the base. To start saving with GE wedge base lamps now, send

for the latest bulletin on GE's expanded line. Order #3-5259R2. It's free.

For whiter, brighter light use GE halogen-cycle lamps. GE halogen-cycle lamps offer you very high light output from a very small pack-age. They can provide better light effi-ciency because the bulb doesn't blacken and because of accurate filament place-ment. Many have uniform bulb tops ( no tip). You get a whiter light than from com-

parable incandescent lamps because of higher color temperature operation. And they maintain their high initial output level for virtually the life of the lamp. Because of their lower electrical power requirements, _

you also save on operating costs vs. comparable incan- e ' • • descent lamps. Some halogen lamps have long design - life for low maintenance costs, too. You can use GE halogen-cycle lamps with confi-

dence when your design needs call for a lot of light in restricted space. For greatly expanded information on GE halogen-cycle lamps, send for your free copy of the new GE bulletin #3-5257-R.

Il- la edge Base

GE No. 3026 halogen-cycle lamp

ConvenUonal lamp

How to order lamp samples and important new free catalogs. For catalogs and information on how to get lamp samples, call your local GE Miniature Lamp Products Representative or write: General Electric, Miniature Lamp Products Department #3382, Nela Park, Cleveland, Ohio 44112.

GENERAL ELECTRIC

New products

120°F. Their principal use is ex-pected to be in parts counting, pack-aging, weighing, and similar preci-sion applications. Hottinger Baldwin Measurements Inc., 17

Mercer Rd., Natick, Mass. 01760. Phone

(617) 655-0950 [374]

Power monitors protect

three-phase motors

Designed to protect motors against burnout caused by abnormalities on the power line, a series of power-line monitors will remove all power from a three-phase motor if it senses a lost phase, low voltage, phase reversal, or a phase-angle shift. A failure- indica-tion lamp turns on when the monitor is activated.

Three adjustable voltage ranges are offered: the model 3P120 covers phase-to-phase voltages of 85 to 125 volts ac, the 3P240 covers 160 to 240

ac, and the 3P480 covers 340 to 480 y ac. Prices for all units range

210 Circle 210 on eader service card Electronics/October 27, 1977

METSHIELD Fabric. The first major advance in magnetic shielding in 50 years.

Now in 40 widths •.METSHIELD" Fabric can help you actueve EMC in field repairs, prototype design, production equipment, and shielded roams.

This is the magnetic shielding product whose time has come.

Increased sales of electronic equip-ment, a trend toward miniaturization and intensified regulatory consid-erations have put increased emphasis on EMC.

Consequently, electronics manu-facturers need cost-effective magnetic shielding not plagued by fabrication problems and use limitations associated with conventional nickel alloys.

Now you have such a shielding. METSHIELDT" magnetic shielding fabric —a wholly new flexible product made from Allied Chemical's METGLAS® amorphous metal alloys.

Because of its exceptional strength and flexibility METSHIELD fabric retains its full shielding effectiveness during fabrication and use.

This reliability of performance—plus the ease with which METSHIELD fabric can be fabricated—enables you to use magnetic shielding as a preferred method to achieve electromagnetically compatible system designs. And METSHIELD fabric now comes in 40" (1 meter) widths for even greater design flexibility.

Discover how this remarkable material can help meet your shielding needs. Phone John Dismukes at 201-455-4031 or Jack Thorp at 201-455-3306. Or return the coupon.

Check boxes for information on METGLASa alloys and METSHIELD" fabric.

III Technical data

Fabrication

I: Grounding and contacting Other (specify)

D Send me sample of METSHIELD fabric

Name/Title

Company

City/State/Zip Mail to: Metglas Products, Allied Chem:cal Corporation

7 Vreeland Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932

Allied Chemical Metglas Products


New products

The AC varie pack.

Your engineers, product testers, and

quality assurance people could travel to 50 countries and

still never see all the kinds of power an Elgar AC Power Source puts out. Its

50 available plug-in oscillator modules let you choose variable or fixed frequencies from 45Hz to 10 KHz. Or you can put in a programmable oscillator and use your imagination. All this in ratings up to 16 KVA. Write us today, and we'll reveal our Sources. rx See us at MIDCON/77, Booths 1232-1234 Elgar also is a leading producer of AC Line

Conditioners and Uninterruptible Power Systems

8225 Mercury Ct San Diego, California 92111,P hone (714) 565-1155

from $38 to $49.50 depending upon quantity. Delivery is from stock. Amtron Corp., P. O. Box 2783, Norman,

Okla. 73069. Phone (405) 364-6143 [376]

Predetermining hour timer

resolves five digits

The HVS15 predetermining hour timer is a five-digit electromechan-ical unit that provides 9,999.9-hour resolution —a previously unavailable level. All five digits can be preset. When the timer counts down from the preset number and reaches zero hour, it operates a 1-ampere single-pole double-throw relay.

Available in 50- and 60-hertz models, the timer can be supplied with either electrical or manual push-button reset. It sells for $90 in hundreds. Delivery is from stock. Kessler-Ellis Products Co., Atlantic High-

lands, N. J. 07716. Phone Leslie Gleason at

(800) 631-2165 [377]

Temperature controller

is only 35/8 inches deep

Temperature controllers in the Mi-cro 2000 series are true plug-in instruments even though they mea-sure only 35/8 inches in depth. A deviation meter that spans ± 50° is standard. Model 2000-B instruments

are rated at 7 amperes at 120 y ac or 5 A at 240 y ac. Model 2000-T units use solid-state relays and have a 1-ampere continuous-current rating. Athena Controls Inc., 20 Clipper Rd., West

Conshohocken, Pa. 19428. Phone Bob Long

at (215) 828-2490 [378]



SUPER MINIATURE Neon Glow Lamps

Circuits Volts AC105-125 Series Resistance 150KS2 Nominal Current 0.3mA Total Flux 20mIm MIN. Average Life Hours •• • 30.000

CLEAR-GREEN Fluorescent Glow Lamps

'Jolts

Series Resistance Nominal Current Total Flux(MI N.) Avg. Life Hours

Circuit Volts Series Resistace Nominal Current Total Flux Avg. Life Hours

Dimension:mm 3 mm _ _

Ílj 1' .1 nun

NL-8S

1°6.0 _rt_TI

19mm

AC crDC 105-125 33KS2 I.6mA

AC: I 2 Orrilm.DC:130mIm NL - 35 G

AC:30.000 DC:40.000

AC 105-125 27KS2 1.5mA 90mlm MIN. 20.000

• MAIN PRODUCT NEON GLOW LAMP. XENON FLASH LAMP, RARE GAS. DISCHARGE LAMP. MINIATURE : BLACK-LIGHT, UV- LIGHT,

Fl UORESCENT COLOR- LIGHT

b.0 .42r1

NL-2 1 G

ELEVAM ELECTRONIC TUBE CO., LTD. NO 17-8 CHUO 2-CHOME OTA-KU. TOKYO JAPAN

TELEPHONE 03( 774) 1231 5

EXPORT DIVISION : JAPAN NANOTRONIX CO., LTD. oTA-Kl"10K11). TELEPHONE. 03 775-4811 TEI.EX 246-6583 JNANOX


THE /-1 P MEMORY... $75*

Model CM-600

Mini-Dek'

• For program loading, diagnostics, extended memory

• 1.6 megabits/200K Bytes, 2.4K Baud • Includes all read/write and motion

electronics • Power 1Watt @ 5VDC, TTL I/O

BRAEMAR

ICOMPUTER I DEVICES, INC.

•1K Qty. Avail. N. Amer. only.

11950 TWELFTH AVENUE SOUTH BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA 55337, (612) 890-5135

gooase

III %meet%

Zr CO•ur

DIN% ctN0,

FUNCTION MODULES,

EMI

ANALOG.to•O

CONVERT".

.mm111111111

ign••1 ustom high rform.ance at

standard low prices with 'wed' A/Ds.

POLANYr 74 mum ,3

A-855 14 BIT A/D

inteCh 2966

roe Bqu,4,

C)NP OFFSET

,45 S•GNAL GNP

he -is

•

• ,

• Q.)

:e cDmp

is (zeNv c ,,,, srant

e•cLocK ovr

Whether you're looking for high resolution and/or high speed for commercial ormili-tary applications, there's a broad line of A/D " cost performers" that you shoüld, and can, take a look at today. For example:

109 The versatile $99.00 naked A/D with 16- bit or 51/2 -digit resolution offers OEM flexibility in output configuration.

A-855-14 A 14- bit A/D with a conversion time of 25p,s, gain t.c. of 177 pprn/C a': a new low price of $295.00. A popular converter for medium to high speed computer-controlled data acquisition systems.

A-856-16 A 16- bit performer at less than 10,u,s, with sample and hold, is a veteran unit for high speed data acquisition systems, with large numbers cf low level data points.

A-858-16 Our newest A/D offers 16- bit performance at 40,rrs and includes buffered input and byte-segmented tri-state outputs, all for $425.00. Options include uni/bipolar inputs/outputs, Samples and Holds (settling times: 2µ5 to 10p,$) and more.

The above listing is just a small sample of what Intech/FM1 A/Ds can do to fit your design needs. We don't stop tnere either. There's a wide choice of high speed 8 and 12- bit A/Ds, also. Plus, Intech gives you design assistance and sample modules for testing that are available as fast as you ask. All units are tested through all parameters before delivery, burned- in, and guaranteed to be at spec or better.

Circle the reader service number below, or, call or write to-day, for more information on the Intech/FMI complete line of A/D converters.

e«

2'esi

26 osi

21 es;

151251

121, 42

,L2sar4

Circle 36 on reader service card intechfiunction modules 282 Brokaw Road, Santa Clara, California 95050 Phone (408) 244-0500 TWX: 910-338-0254


Introducing

KERAMAX and a new Kind ot performance — up to 3300°F in air

with KERAMAX LaCr03 elements.

KERAMAX high temperature furnaces and LaCr03 heating elements excel where others pale by delivering higher working temperatures in oxidizing atmospheres with stability, durability, simple operation and a lower cost/service life ratio. KERAMAX developed by Nippon Kagaku Togyo Co., Ltd. provides a new level of performance at the highest working tem-peratures, whether for R&D, materials testing or production. Furnace Applications • Growing single crystals of (for example), ferrite for VTR heads • High temperature pro-perties measuring • Ceramics sintering • Metal and slag heat treatment KERAMAX LaCr03 Elements • Longer service life at higher working tempera-tures in oxidizing atmospheres • Lower cost/ service life ratio • Near zero resistance tem-perature coefficients at high temperatures; negligible electric resistance change due to aging • Excellent sensitivity and stability for precise temperature control; easy operation • Automatc control ease • Allows direct elec-tricity supply at room temperature • Silicon car-bide power units applicable for KERAMAX • Suitable for use as light source and electrodes • Write or Telex for Complete Details

PuteliRP Nishimura Bldg. 13-11, Nishi-Gotanda 1-Chome,

Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141, Japan Phone: 03-494-0471 Telex: TOK 2467455

New products

Components

Resistors have low thermal emfs

Precision components mix

ruggedness and stability

with tolerances to 0.005%

Vishay's S102 resistors have long been known for their superior long-term stability and low temperature coefficient. Now, by taking the Bulk Metal technology that underlies the S102 and combining it with an improved fabrication process called unit construction, the manufacturer has added increased ruggedness and reduced thermal emf and created a new resistor called the S102C. The new units are designed to meet or exceed all requirements of MIL-R-55182/9, Characteristic Y — the mil-itary's toughest resistor specifica-tion. Their thermal emf of 0.3 micro-voltíC difference in lead tempera-ture makes them especially appli-cable to low-level dc switching. Key to the performance of the new

resistors is their use of flattened "paddle leads" for connection to the resistive element. A single weld bonds each lead to the etched Bulk Metal element; the assembly is then sealed in silicone rubber and encap-sulated in a compression-molded case.

This new design ensures lead integrity, provides excellent resist-ance to moisture and high tempera-

tures, and improves load-life stabil-ity. At the same time, the advan-tages of the standard S102 resistors are retained. The new units exhibit the same low noise, low temperature coefficient, tight tempco tracking, and superior high-frequency per-formance as the earlier units.

Currently available resistance val-ues range from 1 ohm to 100 kilohms, while tolerances go from 0.005% to 1%. Complete details are set forth in Bulletin R-800A. Vishay Resistive Systems Group, 63 Lincoln

Highway, Malvern, Pa. 19355. Phone (215)

644-1300 [343]

Toggle switches can be

used in microwave region

Series 10 subminiature toggle switches are low-capacitance devices (shunt capacitance is about 0.4 pico-farad) that can be used effectively up to about 2 gigahertz. The switches do not need shielding to

provide high isolation. Designed for low-energy applications, they are useful whenever space is at a


Now you can get 3 different types of solid-state

relays from P&B. That's PO solid-statesmanship. Specify P&B solid-state relays for wide choice, top performance, fast delivery. Three designs-103 ratings and voltages—now mailable from your local distributor. Get P&B experience—nearly two decades of designing solid-stale devices.

New EAX Series. Solid-state 1.2 ampere AC relay. Trans-former coupled. Zero current turn-off. Low cost, solid-state relays that

can be driven directly by logic cir-cuitry (TTL, MOS, HTL, and others). For switching solenoids, fractional hp motors, heating ele-ments, contactors and small lamp loads.

'Thyristor switch controlled and isolated by a pulse transformer cir-cuit. Terminals for printed circuit board mounting ( 0.1" grid).

Expected life of over 100 million operations. Temp. range: storage, —40°C to +85°C. Operating am-bient, — 10°C to +55°C.

EOM/EOT Series, 0.1 to 20 amperes. All solid-state opto-coupled AC relays. Medium power, 120/240 VAC

50/60 Hz switches. Controlled and isolated by opto-electronic coupler. For use as ON/OFF switch for loads through 20 amperes. EMI and 121.1 are greatly reduced due to zero vol-tage turn-on and zero current turn-off. An ideal component for interfac-

ing between thelogic output of TIL, HTL, or MOS circuitry and such AC loads as solenoids, motors, lamps and transformers. Expected life greater than 100

million operations. Temp. range: storage, —40°C to +85°C. Operating ambient, — 10°C to + 55°C.

Ideal applications for P&B solid-state relays include process controls, instru-mentation, life support equipment, alarm devices, machine tools, vending machines, dryers, photocopiers, lighting and traffic controls.

See your P&B representative or authorized P&B distributor for specifications on his 103 off-the-shelf solid-state and hybrid relays. Or, write Potter & Brum-field Division AMF Incorporated, 200 Richland Creek Drive, Princeton, Indiana 47671. 812/386-1000.

ECT Series. Solid-state Hybrid relay. Reed triggered triac. 0.1 to 32 amperes. Medium power, 120/240 VAC

50/60fiz solickitate switches con-trolled and isolated by a reed relay, packaged for direct .chassis mount-ing. Intended for switching AC loads such as solenoids, motors, lamps and transformers through 32 amperes. AC and DC actuation available.

Advantages: long life, high inrush switching capacity and input/output isolation provided by the reed relay. Expected life greater than 10

million operations. 'Operating am-bient, — 10°C to + 55°C. Standard models have .250"

quick-connect ¡terminals. .187" and .205" also available.

Potter & Brumfield

Potter at Brumfield Circle 217 on reader service card

New products

premium. Series 20 miniature toggle switches are similar devices. They are somewhat larger, perform up to 1 GHz, and can be mounted on a printed-circuit board. Both series are double-pole double-throw devices and are optionally available with one set of poles shorted. The switch bodies are made of Teflon, the

contacts of gold-plated fine silver. Small quantities are available

from stock. For one to nine pieces, the series 10 switches sell for $5.50 and the series 20 for $6.50. Instru-Mech Inc., 1275 Bloomfield Ave., Fair-

field, N.J. 07006. Phone Dave Demarest at

(201) 575-1860 [344]

two proven performers Name your most important criteria for a general purpose pho-tometer/radiometer. If you need reliability and an excellent

price/performance ratio, we've got it.

40X ANALOG OPTO-METER--a

high quality, low cost photometer/

radiometer. It's a portable in-strument with the accuracy, re-liability and capability found in

higher priced models. Measure-

ment range: 10-2 to 10 -9W; 10 to

10-'fc • flat 450 to 950 nm, and CIE response • NBS traceability

to 2% • no measurable drift

• fully calibrated.

80X DIGITAL OPTO-METER — one step up from the 40X with

an extra decade of measure-

ment (10 -2 to 10-'°W and 104 to 10-4 fc). The 80X is battery and AC powered for both lab and

field use.

These are only two of the UDT

Performers— light measurement

instrumentation to fill a wide range

of requirements. Call or write for

applications assistance.

YEARS AHEAD IN LIGHT detection • measurement • application

UNITED DETECTOR TECHNOLOGY INC. 2644 30th Street, Santa Monica, California 90405

Telephone: (213)396-3175 Telex: 65-2413

Dpdt DIP relay stands

only 0.38 inch high

Standing only 0.38 inch high, a double-pole double-throw electrome-chanical relay housed in a dual in-line package fits well within 0.5-inch spacings when mounted on a printed-circuit board. It fits standard 16-pin sockets, and its footprint is the same as those of similar, but taller, units. The unit is extremely sensitive: its

coil requires a maximum of 200 milliwatts at pull- in. The relay can switch a resistive load of 1 ampere at 28 volts dc and can carry 5 A. Life expectancy is in excess of 10 million cycles for low-level loads. Typical operating time is 4 milliseconds; typical release time is 1 ms. Allied Control Operation, Control and

Systems Division, Gould Inc., 100 Relay Rd.,

Plantsville, Conn. 06479 [345]

Single-turn pots will last

5 million shaft rotations

When it is expected that a poten-tiometer will be more or less contin-uously adjusted by its end user, it becomes important to consider the effect of shaft rotation upon the pot's life. Pots in the 6180 series have a conductive-plastic element that gives them a life expectancy some 500 times greater than that of carbon composition pots- 5 million shaft rotations versus 100,000. They can thus reduce field repair time, ex-pense, and frustration in a wide variety of equipment. The various pots in the series are electrically similar; they differ only in bushing and shaft dimensions. All provide a 1-watt power rating at 70°C, a maximum operating temperature of 125°C, a maximum output rough-ness of 0.1%, fabrication from non-flammable materials, and essentially infinite resolution. Beckman Instruments Inc., Technical Infor-

mation Section, Helipot Division, 2500 Har-

bor Blvd., P.O. Box 3100, Fullerton, Calif.

92634 [346]


Dura-Corf: Smallest connector Tough as the biggest.

Contact: 15X actual size Connector: 1.2X actual size

Use it your way or ours So small you can barely see it, yet the Dura-Con contact has better performance and is more de-pendable than almost any other connector, regard-less of size.

These remarkable characteristics are the result of the unique spiral spring design of the male contact, which provides seven points of contact on the female. For example:

Shock resistance: No discontinuity, 20 shocks, 500g

Vibration resistance: No ciscontinuity,

10 to 2000g. .06' double amplitude or 50g. (6 nanosecond sensitivity)

Durability: 500 mating cycles minimum Temperature: — 65° to + 275° F

Where space. weight or signal path reduction is required, the Dura-Con. with its 0.050" contact spacing, cannot be exce led.

The Dura-Con connector system is available in strip (up to 20 contacts) and " D" rectangular (9, 15, 21, 25, 37 and 50 contacts) configurations from stock, or it can be adapted to your custom design or termi-nation requirements. Contact your TRW Cinch Connector distributor or tield sales office or write to TRW Cinch Connectors, 1501 Morse Avenue, Elk

Grove Village, Illinois 60007, (312) 439-8800. cc-7716 'Trade Mark TRW Inc. Licensed by New Twist Connector Corp.

TRW CINCH CONNECTORS

ANOTHER PRODUCT OF A COMPANY CALLED TRW


the inside man... "I'm ok in the normal chamber Fahrenheitwise But

these Reliability burn- in chambers, like the CRITERIA IV,

are a bit much. 200 C and such

"But it's the only way I can be sure your production

quantities of IC's, RAMS. ROMS, µ PS and other devices

will receive the precise heat, power and dynamics they

need and deserve in this age of exactness

Just look at these facts

• Dynamic Burn- in to 200 C

• Up to 11,000 RAMS at one time

• " Exsert Connection" provides for external drivers and

long connector life

• 10 billion hours of device time logged by Reliability

Inc in our burn- in facility in Houston — nation's largest

• CRITERIA units now in operation in many major

manufacturers of solid state devices

"Let me demonstrate our cost effectiveness for your

plant . for small lot or production quantities"

Call Bob Burton, ( 713) 666-3261

(i) Reliability, Inc. _ P. 0 Box 37409/Houston, Texas 77036 713/666 3261/TVVX 910-881 1739


rtridgeS. The standard of reliability.

Our rugged TC2000 and TC1200 quarter-inch data cartridges promise a long lifetime of error-free perform-ance. Precision components and computer-grade Verbatim'

media assure data reliability good enough even for IBM's desk-top 5100.

The Verbatim name on removable magnetic media is our pledge of quality. Ask for it by name.

Write or call for the name of your local Verbatim distributor.

Information Terminals Corp. 323 Soquel Way Sunnyvale. CA 94086

• ( 245-4400

Information Terminals S.A. Case postale 296 1215 Geni.'ve 15 Switzerland Td: 022 32-32-39 Telex: 22647 ITGE CH

ITC—Far East 404 Roppongi Skylleights 3-2-21 Roppongi. Minatoku Tokyo. Japan

t0.3) 583-1981 Telex: J 47879


If you could curt base material cost from $15 or $30 down to $3 per square foot, how much would you save next month?

Maybe $ 10,000 per month? More? Less? How much more can we tell you here? Write for full data using the coupon below or the reader service card. Well, Tektronix, Inc. of Beaverton, Oregon

thought the savings impressive enough for their high frequency circuit boards to switch from polyphenylene oxide to an extruded polysulfone ( UDEL Polysulfone, of course) just 1/16 of an inch thick.

Their processing costs are about the same as for other base materials with similar electrical properties. Even the quality and yields (c. 80%) are close on. But since they stopped using copper clad polyphenylene oxide they also get a use temperature 100 deg F. above that material.

Polysulfone outperforms other materials at a lower cost in high frequency applica-tions because of its excellent electricals (see graph) plus all these advantages:

• withstands 500 deg. F. wave solder bath for 5 secs. • good notched Izod: 1 ft-lb/in. • impressive chemical resistance • ink and adhesive baking at 320 deg. F. • good peel strength • and polysulfone can be molded wet stand-offs, holes of all sizes, and any shape, to save machining and finishing time.

10 100 14 10k 100k 1M

Contour Plot of Dielectric Los.

Maybe I can cut my high frequency circuit boards cost by 90%. Let me look at your data on UDEL Polysulfone

Name

Title

Company

Address

Phone ( )

Gty

State Mail to: Union Carbide Engineering Polymers, Dept. relo-2 270 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017.

Zip

Grcle 221 on reader service card

1

See us in Booths 602-604 Materials Show & Conference

rMILITARY APPLICATIONS

by

Accuracy

Speed

Size

Repairability

Military

Temp. Range

—55°C to + 125°C

• 4 Bit/50 nSec; Low Cost

• Ideal for Radar Scan Converters

• Holds Absolute Accuracy Over

Temperatures

• Tracks a 10 MHz Analog Input

• 9 Bit/ 200 nSec.

• < 2 Bit Drift Over Temperature

• Insensitive to Clock Frequency

For Further Information Call or Write

M.S. Kennedy Corp.

Pickard Drive, Syracuse, New York 13211

Tel. 315-455-7077

New products

Instruments

Calibrator has 50-ppm accuracy

Microprocessor-controlled

instrument calculates

errors and tolerances

The model 5100A microprocessor-controlled calibrator is a highly flex-ible instrument with output accura-cies and capabilities sufficient to cover the calibration of simple analog multimeters, 31/2- and 41/2-digit multimeters, and even some 51/2-digit precision instruments. It produces dc voltages to 1,100 volts with accuracy to within 50 parts per million, ac voltages to 1,100 y at frequencies of 50 hertz to 50 kilo-hertz, ac and dc currents from 10 microamperes to 2 A, and eight resistances from 1 ohm to 10 megohms. Among the many features made

possible by the unit's microprocessor are: entry limit, which is a number that may be placed in memory so that the operator may not call for an output that exceeds the limit; lead compensation, in which the resist-ance of the test leads is subtracted

from the reading of the unit under test; scaling, which allows any frac-tion of full scale to be selected with the tolerance automatically cal-culated and displayed as a percent-age; and editing, which allows a single rotary control to change any number originally selected from the keyboard.

In addition to the model 5100A, Fluke is producing the model 5101A—a similar instrument that incorporates a built-in tape cassette for, the permanent storage of fre-quently used test procedures. The 5100A sells for $6,495, while the 5101A is priced at $8,495. Delivery time for the former is 60 days; for the latter it is 180 days. John Fluke Mfg. Co., P.O. Box 43210,

Mountlake Terrace, Wash. 98043. Phone

toll-free (800) 426-0361 [353]

Snap-around probe measures

ac and dc currents

Built around a Hall-effect flux sensor, a noncontacting current probe called a Current Gun mea-sures currents from de to 1 kilohertz when it is plugged into almost any voltmeter, multimeter, or oscillos-cope. The snap-around probe has two basic ranges: ± 10 amperes full scale and ± 100 A full scale. In each


The Hewlett-Packard 9825 calculator provides the 620S computer performance with the operating convenience of a calculator. programming is simple with HPL, an easy

to learn, high level language designed for scientists and engineers. Standard features imclude a live- keyboard, alpha numeric printer and caissette recorder. Up to 24K

memory is available. Plug-in peripherals include floppy

disk, line printer, x-y plotter, and tape punch. It also

attaches to H.P. Interface Buss.

A complete, integrated data acquisition system thats easy to use — thats our turnkey 620S

Like to know more? Call us today at 213-357-2281 or

write for our free brochure.

TURNKEY 620 SYSTEMS FROM NEFF USING THE HP 9825 CALCULATOR..

the logical next step in data acquisition.

You're involved in a scientific, engineering, or industrial project that could use a high performance, low cost data acquisition system. But you know that system integration

and software costs of most systems actually exceed the hardware. And your need is now, so you want a

system that will take data immediately with minimum user training.

Our turnkey 620S was designed for you

620S is a sophisticated data acquisition system with amplifier-per-channel or differential multiplexer analog

signal processing and using the H.P. 9825 computing

calculator for system control, data analysis and recording.

Neff systems are known for high performance and the

620S is no exception. Consider 0.1% accuracy with 50kHz channel scanning rate, fullscale input sensitivities

from 5 millivolts to 10 volts, up to 256 channels or 2048 channels fully expanded, and 120>dB rejection of common

mode voltages up to 300 volts. Selectable data filters, simultaneous sample and hold an:d input signa: conditioning are but a few of the many availaUe features.

'2:1.1EM ra212 Mafia 41".:MOCeler.: —.—. raze *gizmo, 4m.• 4saa• e•e amb - idilas •••••—••••• taiel 'or

'ante kgg•• ..••• ,aiwg• 4I•• 4..• 1..0 ri•O me/ 16...1 a. oie u.=.• .m11 Va.O.,.:11111

m— i«•1

nZgIU 121

INSTRUMENT CORPORATION

1088 E. Hamilton Rd., Duarte, Calif. 91010 Tel. ( 213) 357-2281 TWX 910-585-1833

irc e on rea er service card

Fast of supplies is no 4mi:roe Power Mate

If you need open frames, sub-modules, switchers and other power supplies now, call Power/Mate.

90% of all catalog items are ready to be shipped to you today.

Power/Mate's East anq West Coast plants are fully stocked with reliable open frame, sub-modular and switching power supplies ready for immediate delivery.

But our in-depth stock sn't the only thing

SEE US AT MIDCON '77 BOOTH 910

that has kept us the leader in the field of power supplies.

Our in-the-field representatives, factory trained applications engineers, telephone salespeople and complete repair facilities make us a company that's just as dependable when it comes to service.

We'll make sure you get the power supply you need when you need if.Because keepingyou ahead of yourcompetition keeps us ahead ol ours.

For more information call us or write:

1E11[ POWER/MATE CORP

514 S. River St./Hackensack, New Jersey 07601/(201) 343-6294/TWX (710)990-5023 17942 Skypark Circle/Irvine, California 92714/(714) 957-1606/TVVX (910) 595-1766

The world's largest supplier of quality power supplies. Circle 228 on reader service card

To make a complete line of pushbutton controls, you need more than pushbuttons.

Pushbuttons from MICRO SWITCH's AML (Ad-vanced Manual Line) have

always been at-tractive to designers. Because they look so good.

And because they're so easy to mount and wire.

But now, the AWri, series is even more appeal-ing. Because now there's a variety of rocker and paddle switches to choose from, including dual lamp and dual color. Which means now you can per-form just about any func-tion with a harmonious dis-play. You don't have to compromise.

AML controls also look appealing to the people who have to do the wiring. All are designed with the same depth for single level termination, regardless of switch or terminal type

There's easy snap-in rockers. But to see how mounting from the front, good-looking AML really PC board mounting or sub- is, contact us for a personal panel mounting using indi- demonstration. vidual, strip or matrix hardware.

Which means mount-ing is simpler. Wiring is simpler. Engineering time is reduced. And total installed cost is lower.

Plus, they offer solid state, electronic control or power switching in the same size housing. All AML devices are designed to meet international, UL and CSA standards.

Displays include split screen, hidden color, and a unique three-segment lens cap indicator. The choice of lamps includes T-1/1 wedge base, neon and LED.

AML has it all —pushbuttons, indicators, and now paddles and

MICRO SWITCH will provide you with field en-gineers for application as-sistance and a network of authorized distributors for local availability. Write us for details or call 815/235-6600.

MICRO SWITCH products are available worldwide through Honeywdll International.

MICRO SWITCH FREEPORT ILLINOIS 61032

A DIVISION OF HONEYWELL

MICRO SWITCH ,OVANCEDNIANL AL NE • ,./VIL

RF detectors

fast delivery

Quantities to 200 from stock

You get fast delivery on WILTRON's quality RF de-

tectors whether your needs are large or small. And with discounts of up

to 15% in quantity.

These are WILTRON's. time-proved quality detec-tors with field-replaceable diodes. Diodes are field-re-placeable even in 18.5 GHz models. Call Walt Baxter at

WILTRON now for details.

Model Range Connectors In Out Flatness

Price $

71850 100 kHz- 3 GHz

BNC Male

BNC Fern.

±0.5 dB 70

73N50 100 kHz- 4 GHz

N Male

BNC Fem.

±0.2 dB 75

74N50 10 MHz- 12.4 GHz

N Male

BNC Fem.

-±0.5 dB 145

74550 10 MHz- 12.4 GHz

SMA Male

BNC Fem.

±0.5 dB 165

75A50 10 MHz- 18.5 GHz

APC-7 BNC Fem.

±1 dB 190

75N50 10 MHz- 18.5 GHz

N Male

BNC Fern.

±1 dB 170

75550 10 MHz- 18.5 GHz

SMA Male

BNC Fern.

-±1 dB 170

IfER-01•T C O M 1=. 1,7

825 EAST MIDDLEFIELD ROAD • MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94043 • (415) 969-6500 • TWX 910-379-6578


Choose from the great family of HP strip chart recorders. Hewlett-Packard, the great name in strip chart recorders, lets you choose from a complete family of high quality models. With proven performance in both laboratory and field, the HP recorder family includes general purpose lab recorders, battery operated portables, models with interchangeable plug-in sig-nal conditioners, and recorders specifically designed for OEM users. Select from a wide choice of writing systems; capillary ink, disposable pen, thermal or electric. Operate them anywhere with con-fidence because HP recorders are backed by a worldwide sales and service organization. Send for complete technical details on the premium quality line from Hewlett-Packard, the great family of strip chart recorders. OEM discounts available.

HEWLETT h PACKARD

New products/materials

Silver-epoxy adhesive Ira- Duct 2924 is a two-part conductive composition for critical high-temperature bond-ing and sealing applications. Usable up to 190°C, the material combines the thermal and electrical conductiv-ities of silver with the adhesive prop-erties of epoxy resins. It is especially recommended for the assembly and repair of electronic modules, inte-grated circuits, waveguides, radio-frequency shields, and similar appli-cations in which conventional solder-ing techniques are difficult. Tra-Con Inc., Resin Systems Division, 55

North St., Medford, Mass. 02155. Phone Jim

Hart at (617) 391-5550 [476]

Electrically conductive inks for screening onto printed-circuit boards are solderable, thermosetting mate-rials with a consistency suitable for use with 225-mesh nylon screens. E-Kote 3065 is an economical silver-alloy composition with a dc sheet resistivity of 0.2 ohm per square. E-Kote 3066 is filled with pure silver and, in the same 1- mil thickness, has a resistivity of 0.1 ohm per square. Acme Chemicals & Insulation Co., Division of Allied Products Corp., P. 0. Box 1404, New

Haven, Conn. 06505. Phone Tony Bianco at

(203) 562-2171 [477]

High-permeability nickel-iron, grain-oriented silicon steels, and other specialized magnetic metals are now available in several new lamination shapes for use in making transform-ers. Of particular interest to tele-phone-equipment manufacturers is the Long E 250, an improvement over the long-used EE250, according to the manufacturer. The LE250 has a magnetic path length of 2 inches. SGL Electronics, 300 Harvard Ave., West-

ville, N. J. 08093 [478]

A metal-cleaning agent called Clepo 146-E can be used to deoxidize and desmut aluminum and most of its alloys and to activate beryllium-copper and phosphor bronze before silver plating. The nonchromated, fluoride- free, moderately acidic for-mulation is designed for use at room temperature. Frederick Gumm Chemical Co., 538 Forest

St., Kearny, N. J. 07032 [479] Sales and service from 172 offices in 65 countries

11702


Gâtes(

There's now a new energy source that's a superb

from Gates. altern ative: Rechargeable, sealed lead-acid batteries

for good reason. We call these batteries the future in energy cells. And

They have all the product advantages you need plus economic advantages that may well give a new dimen-sion to your product pricing.

Advantages: Gates Energy Cells are as compact as lickel cadmium or gelled type cells. And they are com-)letely sealed so that no acid vapor can leak out they also include a self-sealing vent for extra afety). Gates Energy Cells provide low in-Drnal impedance for high discharge rates nore than 100 amps from the D cell and DO amps from our X cell for short periods f time). And can be operated or stored in ly position.

Gates Energy Cells offer great packag- Energy Proch

ing flexibility. In fact, our individual cell availabilit allows you to choose your own specific voltage ( in 2-vo increments) and current, as well as configuration.

Just as important as what Gates Energy Cells have ti offer is what they don't have to offer. Like outgassin problems. Or cell reversal. Or "memory" problems. Because Gates, Energy Cells are made from low-cos

materials that are readily available, they're very high ir, watt-hr per dollar value. Which means that if you specify them, you'll probably save your company more than a few dollars. And make yourself into something of a

hero in the bargain.

To find out more about the future in energy cells, circle our reader service number or write us. We'll send you free literature con-taining features, application information, ratings and specifications. George Sahl. Gates Energy Products, Inc.. 1050 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80217.

JCt

Where the energy future is now E— 1 o

Circle 231 nn -

Where can I get an AC-DC or DC-DC switching power supply in a modular,

open frame or P.C.B. design, with a 5 year warranty at

reasonable cost?

ETATECH

1/111601EMSO

MODEL B5D10, 5V a, 10A, 28 VDC INPUT

$180. 1-99 PCS

11 el,

IIPE—glik-Mier E I

MODEL B5S10, 5V @ 10A, 115 VAC INPUT

$145, 1-99 PCS.

187-M W. ORANGETHORPE, PLACENTIA, CA 92670

Circle 232 232 on reader service card

(714) 996-0981

Staggered fingers let case-mounted semi's

work harder in less space

Now you can safely operate such devices as TO-3, TO-6, TO-66, plas-tics, at many times their bare case power rating using our patented Staggered Finger dissipators. We've got over 70 different models with dissipa-tion capabilities ranging from 3 to 35 watts in natural convection, up to 125

No. 23 of a Series

watts in forced air. Why are they better? Staggered Finger

design increases dissipating sur-face, cuts re-radiation, and pro-

duces turbulence in forced air. Send for catalog. IERC, 135 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91502, a subsidiary of Dynamics Corporation of America.

IERC r\ Heat Sinks

New literature

Solid-state amplifiers. A detailed discussion of solid-state amplifier products is presented in a 32-page catalog. The amplifier families that are covered include TO-8, wideband, radar- and communications-band, and intermediate-power solid-state amplifiers, and medium- and high-power limiters. Watkins-Johnson Co., 3333 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, Calif. 94304. Circle reader service number 421.

Microwave bandpass filters. Catalog no. 778 describes a full line of micro-wave bandpass filters, from helical resonators and coaxial cavities in the low range to rectangular waveguides in the high range. A detailed comparative summary, giving the filter series characteristics, is pro-vided at the beginning. The rest of the catalog features detailed descrip-tions and performance data for each filter series. Lorch Electronics Corp., 105 Cedar Lane, Englewood, N. J. 07631 [422]

Making accurate measurements. Ap-plication note 13, explaining how a calibrated spectrum analyzer can be used for making accurate measure-ments of either amplitude-mod-ulated or frequency-modulated sig-nals, is available from Marconi Instruments, Division of Marconi Electronics Inc., 100 Stonehurst Ct., Northvale, N. J. 07647 [423]

Magnetic shielding. The availability of products and services for making magnetic shielding is detailed in a brochure from the Mushield Co., 121 Madison Ave., Malden, Mass. [425]

Monochips. A line of linear and digital semicustom integrated cir-cuits is presented in a I 6-page full-color brochure. A new linear circuit, a 91-by- 110-mil chip containing 460 components, designated the MO-F, and a newly developed n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor digitial chip, designated the MD-A, are highlighted. Characteristics of the various integrated components are provided. A separate section of the brochure contains information to

232 Circle 45 on reader ser \ ice card Electronics/October 27, 1977

Dialight is your second source to UK for miniature rockers and toggles...

Come to the people who've always been specialists in having more good ways to solve problems: Dialight. What we've done in indicator lights, illuminated switches, readouts and LEDs, we're doing now in miniature rockers and toggles.

This new Dialight family of switches, which comes in a full range of sizes is, we're proud to point out, all-American made.

When you consider all the configurations of styles, sizes, life and safety ratings, colors and mountings, you'll find there are literally hundreds of thousands of design combinations. Such a number of possibilities

can in itself be a problem, except that the new Dialight catalog is specifically designed to prevent confusion and help you quickly and easily find the most advantageous combination of features for your applications.

If you'd like to see what Dialight quality rockers and toggles cal do for the looks, durability and economics of your products, contact us today for the Dialight " Meets Your Need" Book. Your free copy will include a list of 1. stocking distributors in 7IALIGH the U.S. and Canada. A North American Ph.lips Company

Dialight meets your needs. Dialight, 203 Harrison Place, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11237 (212) 497-7600


Thin-Trim® capacitors

Tucked in the corner of this IV' Pulsar Watch is a miniature

capacitor which is used to trim the crystal. This Thin-Trim capacitor is one of our 9410 series, has an adjustment range of 7 to 45 pf., and is . 200" x .200" x . 050" thick. The Thin-Trim concept provides a variable device to replace fixed tuning techniques and cut-and-try methods of adjustment. Thin-Trim capacitors are available in a variety of lead configurations making them very easy to mount.

, A smaller version of the 9410 is --fie the 9402 series with a maximum

capacitance value of 25 pf. These are per-fect for applications in sub-miniature cir-cuits such as ladies electronic wrist watches and phased array MIC's.

Johanson Manufacturing Corporation, Rockaway Valley Road., Boonton, N.J. 07005. Phone (201) 334-2676, TWX 710-987-8367.

New literature

help engineering personnel assess the cost effectiveness of the monochip approach. Interdesign Inc., 1255 Reamwood Ave., Sunnyvale, Calif. 94086 [424]

Thyristor gating. An 11-page report, "Thyristor Gating for Microproces-sor Applications," discusses the use of some of the most common thyris-tors, triacs, and silicon controlled rectifiers in microprocessor-based control systems for appliance and

A Texas Instrument.% %mill,

industrial-control applications. Mi-croprocessor control of triacs, elec-trical isolation of gate drive, tran-sient noise problems, and protection from circuit malfunction are dis-cussed briefly as well. Texas Instru-ments Inc., Inquiry Answering Ser-vice, P. O. Box 5012, M/S 308 (Attn: CA- 191) Dallas, Texas [426]

Piezoelectric accelerometers. An eight-page catalog discusses how internally preamplified piezoelectric accelerometers can replace charge-coupled piezoelectric accelerometers in low- temperature applications while simultaneously improving vi-bration measurement accuracy. Dis-cussion of each model's individual capabilities and its most suitable engineering applications is provided along with a picture. An additional two-page chart enhances this discus-sion, providing complete electrical, mechanical, and physical data for each accelerometer. Accelerometer installation data is also given. BBN

f,, TheeN

$422.50* Microprocessor.

Complete.

Are we bugs?

The MMD-1 is your ticket to the world of microprocessors. It's a complete microcomputer sys-tem. And just as important, it comes with the industry's most advanced instructional software — 700 pages by Rony/Larsen/Titus, authors of the famous BUGBOOIC series.

Without any prior knowledge of electronics you can be up and operating in a matter of hours. Teaching yourself everything from fundamental logic to sophisticated interfacing.

And you'll be learning on the most complete hardware pack-age of its kind. Direct Keyboard Entry of Data . . Built-in Power Supply... Direct Access to Output Ports . . . Monitoring of Address and Data Busses ... Unique Bread-boarding Facilities for Interfaces... and ... more.

The MMD-1 is clearly the best buy in the industry. And it's avail-able now at your nearest computer store. Stop in. Or write us for the store nearest you and a full 8 page illustrated brochure.

*Suggested resale price.

I

E&L INSTRUMENTS, INC. 61 First Street, Derby, Conn 06418 (203) 735-8774 Telex No 96 3536

MANUFACTURING CORPORATION 234 Circle 234 on reader service card

t\tmemet Circle 64 on reader service card

Tecnetics' broad range of power converters, the stepping stones to your product's success

SERIES DC-DC

OUTPUT POWER Watts

OUTPUT VOLTAGE VDC

INPLI VOLTAGE

liDt

PRICE RANGE 1 to 9

3150-48 150 5-48 48 595 3100-48 100 5-48 48 495 3100-28 100 5-48 28 495 3050-48 50 5-48 48 425 3050-28 50 5-48 28 425 3025-48 25 5-48 48 395 3025-28 25 5-48 28 395 9525-48 25 5-24 48 250.295.365 9525-28 25 5-24 28 250.295.365 9584 10 5V-5KV 28 210-310 9589 6 5V-5KV 28 - 190-280 9567 3 5V-5KV 28 180-27C 9583 1 5V-3KV 28 200-280 1205 25 5-28 12,24.26,48 198 1000 10 5-24 5,6,12,24 28,48 115,125,140 1600 6 5-24 5,6.12,24 28,48 89,99.109 1300 3 5-24 5,6,12,24.28,48 79.89,99 1100 1 5-24 5,6,12,24 28,48 59,65 HC max. 3 5-300 5,12,20 49,59,69 HCH, N, E max. 3 5-300 6,5,12,15,20,N,28 49,59,69

AC-DC

4200 200 5-48 115 845 4100 100 5-48 115 450 4050 50 5-48 115 425 4025 25 5-48 115 395 4100-3 100 5-48 115 450 4050-3 50 5-48 115 425 4025-3 25 5-48 115 395

Whether you are designing military hardware. space vehicles, communication equipment or other high

technoloçy procucts, the components you select can mean the differerce between success or failure in the final product.

That's why more and more design engineers are finding the power convefters they need in the Tecnetics catalog.

Tecnetics offers the broadest range of state of the art DC-DC power converters, and we are now extending our expertise into 400 Hz power supplies. We have been developing and refining these products since 1959, so that today each one is unsurpassed in terms of efficiency, reliability, control circuitry ard documentation.

The nearly ore-thousand products in our catalog give the design engineer a wide choice of options and features including: • Efficiencies up to 86% • MTBF up to 40,000 hrs. • Single, dual and triple outputs • Remo:e error sensing • Densities up to 1.65 watts per cuPic inch • DMI protecfion • Mil spec environmental protection • Short crcuit and overload protection • Input-output isolatiun

Send for our catalog today. YOu're sure to find a stepping stone to your prteducfs success.

tecnetcs TchoenvPeor:ioenr Specialists

P.O. Box 910, 1625 Range Street, Boulder, CO 80302 (303) 442-3837 TWX 910-940-3246


Electronics Book Series. Zero-risk

Magazine

trial offer. 1. Microprocessors What you must know about available microprocessor technology, devices, informa-tion, 4th printing. $8.95

egextocessots

,,,c,„„„s

2. Applying Microprocessors 2nd and 3rd generation tech-nology. 26 detailed applications from data networks to video games. $9.95

»SUING miCROMOCESSORS

Zia New Wm:Mg:re. software cexl applicalons

Met:

3. Large Scale Integration Covers the basic technology, new LSI devices, LSI testing procedures, plus system design and applications. $9.95

inellietbri L • I L

scale

I Electeelcs Book Sales

4. Basics of Data Communications Includes 47 articles from Data Communications magazine covering more than 11 key areas. $12.95

CMONS

Ekennts Book Sates

.... ae01115 C»OJeS CºCtle5 (Rae CRCLIS tat eleallalCS aleee05

5. Circuits for Electronics Engineers Contains 306 circuits arranged by 51 functions from Ampli-fiers to Voltage Regulating Circuits. Saves design drudgery. $ 15.95

11-ie:g N.J. 08520 Len Iii I of " Microprocessors" at $8.95 per copy. of "Applying Microprocessors" at $9.95

copies of " Large Scale Integration" at $9.95

Electronics P.O. Box

1. Send me 2. Send me per copy. 3. Send me —.........

Book Series 669, Hightstown,

copies copies

4. Send me $12.95 per copy. 5. Send me at $15.95 per copy.

copies of " Basics of Data Communications" at

copies of " Circuits for Electronics Engineers"

Discounts of 40% on orders of 10 or more copies.

I must be fully satisfied or you will refund full payment if the book is returned after ten-day trial examination.

Payment enclosed El Bill firm E Bill me

charge to my credit card E BankAmericard E American Express E Diners Club E Master Charge

Acc't No. Date exp

On Master Charge only, first numbers above name

Name Title

Company

Street

City State Zip

Signature

New literature

Instruments Co., 50 Moulton St., Cambridge, Mass. 02138. Phone (617) 491-0091 [431]

Magnetic media measurements. A 12-page brochure describes success-ful techniques used in magnetic media measurements. It is geared for the user of high-speed computer and telemetry recording equipment. Described are typical patterns that cause stress to the system and detec-tion of stress locations using the measuring system. Tau-tron Inc., 11 Esquire Rd., North Billerica, Mass. 01862 [427]

Chip capacitors. A reference hand-book presents a detailed discussion of ceramic-chip capacitor technol-ogy. Topics discussed include elec-

• Skintitet) DIEL EC I RK'S. INC

Understanding Chip Capacitors

•

•

trical properties, classes of di-electrics, testing parameters, and choosing the correct chip. Johanson Dielectrics Inc., Box 6456, Burbank, Calif. 91510 [428]

Semiconductor products. A 148-page cross-reference and product guide is an excellent aid for those engineers who need a quick replacement for any semiconductor product. It in-cludes how to locate the replacement device, how to verify the replace-ment device, and what to do if a cross-reference replacement is not found. The products cross-ref-erenced are: paired complementary transistors, zener diodes, high-volt-age components, field-effect tran-


2495 PROBE? You bet! Meet CSC's Multi-family Logic Probe 2.

Wherever you need fast, safe, accurate digital testing— you need CSC's new LP- 2. R's a compact, enormously

versatile circuit-powered unit thatsbecome indispens-able. As a level detector. Pu se detector. And pulse stretcher.

Easier to use. Set LP- 2's switch to:he proper logic family, connect two clip- leads to the circuit's supply, touch he probe to the node unde, test — ana you get an instant picture of circLit conditions. Separate LED's indicate logic " 1-, logic "0-, and all pulse transitions. And a 300K-plus input impedance insures minimum circuit loading.

At just $24.95*, you don't have to think twice about owning the LP- 2. Especially when you see how it simplifies testing debugging and servicing all types of dicitW circuds. See your CSC dealer today. Or call 203-624-3103 (East Coast) or 415-421-8872 (West Coast) for the name of your local stocking distributor and a full-1 ,ne catalog.

Logic Family Switch —TTL/DTL or CMOS matches Logic " 1" and "0" levels for greater versatility. CM:OS position also compatible with HTL, HiNIL and MOS logic.

PULSE LED— Indicates posdive and negative pulseand level transitions. Stretches pulses as narrow as 300 nanoseconds to full /10 sec. ( 10Hz pulse rate).

HI/L0 LED's—Display level (HI- logic -1", LO- logic "01 of signal activity.

Interchangeable ground lead connection— Provides groLnd-side input connection via optional cables.

Interchangeable probe tips— Straight tip supplied optional alligator clip and insulated quick-connecting clip available.

Plug-in leads- 24" supplied with alligator clips, Virtually any length leads may be connected

-

Specifications Input impedance better than 300K

Thresholds (switch selectable) DTL/TTL MTL/CMOS

logic 1 thresholds ( HI- LED) 2'.25V ± 1LOV 70% Vcc ± 10%

logic 0 thresholds ( LO- LED) 0180V (i5V 30% VCc 10%

Min. detectable puse width 30Onsec

Pulse detector (PULSE LED) ' 1,0- sec pulse stretcher makes

high-speed pulse train or single events ( + or - transitions) visible Input protection overload, t 25V continuous, 117 VAC for less

than 10 sec • reverse-polarity, 50V

Power requirements 5-15 volts Vcc 30mA max

Operating temperature 0-50°C Physical size (I x w x d) 58 x 1 0 x 0 7" ( 147 x 254 x 17 8mm)

Weight 3oz 1.085Kg)

Power leads detachable 24" (610 mm) with color-coded instilated clips, °Oilers aya able

LOGIC

LOGIC 0

LOG C

LOGIC

LOGIC • I

LOGIC U'

LOGIC 0

LOGIC I

• LOGIC

LEO ON

LO LED ON

PULSE LED BLINKS ON FOR 1,10 SEC

/ LO LED ON

T I 10 SEC

HI LED ON

HI LED ON

.,,,,,,,,ti rti rti rti PULSE

OPP LED

+ 4 4 4 s OFF LO LEO ON

DOLING PuLtF • PANSI,ONS PUSSE t ED BoNFL Al ... Pee

'LO I ED DOES NOT RESI'4 DNI? 70 NARROW PULSES

05,556 PULSA nue.s, t 10. PULSE LED SLINKS AT lOT. PATE

LO LED ON RI LED OCES NOT RESPOND TO NARROW PULSES

ONTINENTM SPECIALTIES CORPORATION

=M= 44 Kendall Street, Box 1942, New Haven, CT 06509,

203-624-3103 TwX: 710-465-1227 WEST COAST 351 California St , San FranPsco, CA 94104,

415-421-8872 TWX: 910-372-7992 GREAT BRITAIN CSC UK LTD.

Spur Road, North Felthan Trading Estate, zeltham, Alidelesex, England.

01-890-8782 Intl Telex: 851-881-3669


• M'anufacturer's Recommended Resale ©1977 Continental Specialties Corporation

Three to go!

Plenco alkyds help race-tested Ampco ignition parts give high performance.

Rotor. Distributor Cap. Ignition Coil Top. Offered in the " Tune- Up for

Road America" Ignition Kit pro-duced by Ampco Products, a divi-sion of Wells Mfg. Corp., Fond du Lac, WI, for sports race- car motor buffs and drivers. You have to really check out to

get their okay! According to Ampco, Plenco

does. The manufacturer chose our Plenco 1500 Series alkyd com-pounds in tan and blue for molding the three parts.

• "The compounds demonstrated greater molding latitude than most alkyd compounds," re-ports Ampco.

• " Proved to have excellent surface resistance to wet tracking."

• "Had dimensional stability plus good heat values."

• "Met stringent carbon tracking and electrical leakage tests."

• " Provided a:tractive f nish complementing chromium plated functional parts."

If you're starting a tight race of your own, you may want to learn how Plenco experience anc serv-ice can help get you going. Just flag us in at (414)458-2121.

PLE NI QC) THERMOSET PLASTICS

PLASTICS ENGINEERING COMPANY Sheboygan, WI 53081

Through Plenco research . a wide range of ready-made or custom-formulated phenolic, melamine-phenolic and alkyd thermoset molding compounds. and industrial resins.

New literature

sistors, and others. P. R. Mallory & Co., 3029 East Washington St., Indianapolis, Ind. 42606 [432]

Potentiometers. A line of single- and multi-turn potentiometers in wire-wound, conductive-plastic, or hybrid versions is described in a short-form catalog. Electrical, mechanical, and environmental specifications are provided for both military and com-mercial use. Duncan Electronics Inc., 2865 Fairview Rd., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626 [429]

Density conversion. Engineers, de-signers, and draftsmen can easily convert material density to other units of measurement. A chart, which shows the conversion of densi-ty to specific volume and equivalent weight, is a quick reference. Some common measurements and their equivalents are given at the bottom of the chart. Technical Wire Products Inc., 129 Dermody St., Cranford, N. J. 07016 [430]

Ceramic substrates. An eight-page brochure provides illustrations for alumina and beryllia ceramic sub-strates, packages, and assemblies that can be designed to an engineer's specifications. Drawings and dimen-sions are given for nine types of lead-less- inverted-device ( LID) carriers. A separate section is provided explain-ing the advantages of the leadless inverted devices. Plessey French-town, 8th and Harrison Sts., French-town, N. J. 08825 [433]

Gmos timekeeping. Complementary metal-oxide semiconductors have been used in the area of precision timekeeping for a while. A short history of this is provided along with the products available for the engi-neer in an eight- page brochure. Discussed are the functions of quartz-analog timekeeping systems including: the crystal-controlled os-cillator, the frequency divider, and the electromechanical clock move-ment. A graph is provided if you want to design your own circuit. Solid State Scientific Inc., Com-merce Dr., Montgomeryville, Pa. 18936 [434]


The Best

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The high quality of our capacitors is known the world over.

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maintained a leadership position based on our tech-nological developments and product quality. We were once a small Connecticut company which

catered almost exclusively to our nation's military needs. But our high-quality products helped us to grow. Now we build products for hundreds of commercial applications world wide — and we have two plants in the U.S.A. and companies in England, West Germany, France, Australia and Japan.

In short, high quality capacitors have put us all over the world map.

Today, more than ever before, it takes advanced engi-neering, research and technology just to survive — and our capacitors are still ranked as "The Best."

In fact, we've recently written a technical paper to point out how our in-house capabilities, controls and processes helped us to maintain our leadership position. Simply write to us and we'll send you a copy. Why not? We wrote the book on monolithic capac-

itors — and are adding important, new chapters every year.

Providing you with "The Best" is what we do — whatever language you speak.

Vitramon Limited ( London) Vitramon GmbH (Stuttgart) Vitramon France S.A.R.L. (Paris)

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Vitramon Pty. Limited (Sydney) Vitramon Japan Limited (Tokyo)

QCI Corporation (Farmingdale, N.J.)


Final Opportunity

Electronic Engineering Management Conference San Francisco, Nov. 8 NewYork, Nov. 15

If you hire, manage, motivate or educate EEs, you cannot afford to miss this concentrated one-day conference

In all of U.S. industry, no area of man-agement is confronted by more critical challenge than the managers of elec-tronic engineers. This Conference, sponsored by Electronics magazine, has been developed to help manage-ment meet that challnge.

Who should attend?

This is a conference which should be attended by those who have the re-sponsibility for motivating, training, and utilizing the electronics engineer. This will include: Design and develop-ment managers, Engineering services managers, Basic research managers, Manufacturing and production man-agers, Training directors, Engineering school deans and professors, Career counselors and consultants.

What subjects will be covered?

Specialists from industry and educa-tion will focus on the hard practical matters which are faced by electronics engineers and those who manage them. The following are some of the ques-tions which will be dealt with:

How to deal with the underutilized EE. The problems of shifting tech-nologies. Career anxiety. Career moti-vation. The dual ladder. What should the EE consider when deciding to remain in technology—financial gain? career potential? What in-house pro-grams have corporations developed to keep EEs updated?

Mail application now. San Francisco Conference is Nov. 8, New York is Nov. 15

Is competency assessment the wave of the future? How to identify the suc-cessful performer. Should performance appraisal become an integral part of the career development program. Is forced turnover an effective means of achieving high performance? Is it possible to quantify performance so the most valuable individual receives the best salary?

How do you get a company to recog-nize the problem of obsolescence—the corporation's and the individual's? The relationship between age and per-formance. Educating management to include the EE's career in its planning. How do you convince management that the project engineer is as impor-tant as the project?

The academic world: Can engineering schools stay up-to-date with current technologies, especially in the field of microprocessors? Is there too much theory and not enough practical ap-plication? Complaints of current

graduates—unqualified instructors, inadequate textbooks. What are elec-tronic engineers' attitudes toward the engineering career? The impact of the microprocessor. What are the future career trends, both professional and technical?

The conference leaders

Seminars will be conducted by recog-nized authorities in their fields, includ-ing William O. Nilsson, corporate training and management develop-ment manager, Hewlett-Packard Company; C.R. Whischmeyer, director of education, Bell Laboratories; John D. Porter, organization development consultant, Lawrence Livermore Lab-oratory; George Klemp, director of research, McBer and Company; James D. Bruce, associate dean, School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Kenneth S. Down, assistant dean and director, Stanford University; Gerald M. Walker, senior editor, Electronics magazine.

ir HMI HIM UM IMMI 11111 Mil BIM 1111 11111 1111 MN NMI UV MIR MOM

Send registration form to: 1:4 F1'11 McGraw-Hill Conference & Seminar Group 1221 Avenue of the Americas—Room 3677 • New York, N.Y. • (212) 997-4930

THE ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE ON MANAGING ENGINEERS The growing challenge of motivating, training, and utilizing the EE San Francisco, November 8, 1977, Fairmont Hotel _____New York, November 15, 1977, McGraw-Hill Corporate Headquarters

Conference fee: $250 Academic fee: $ 150

Name

Title

Company

Company address

Company telephone

Signature 111 Check one. __Payment enclosed _Please bill me directly _Please bill company

Cancellation policy: Cancellations made less than seven days prior to the conference are subject to a $25 fee. You may, if you wish, send a substitute in your place.

E12345

gill. MIMI MIMI UM 11111 MI MD VIM IMO ISM MIMI MIN Ili IBM NZ INII BIM Mill MI MIMI MI E12345

11

THE FIC LANED FLA Is 11-11[ILIU!

Whether your radio tunes to the "sweetest music this side of heaven" on the AM and FM bands, the busiest chatter on the CB band, or the weather report on the public service band; oui new Model 103 signai generator meets all your test signal requirements ... and then some. The generator combines a fre-

quency coverage of 125 kHz to 175 MHz with five IF and RF sweep ranges. It has full external counting capability clown to 5 Hz, accurately metered FM and AM

modulation, high RF output to - 23 dBrn, and phase lock on tue 103B version. The 6 digit readout has select-

able resolution o as high as 1 Hz. It can also display the center fre-quenzy of each sweep range or the freqtency cf a built-in variable marker.

Boorton's Model 103 replaces two or more older signal genera-tors, a coLnter, and a sweeper, giv-ing you cost savings you hadn't thought possible since that other Big Band Era.

Don't just take our word for it. Call us or your Boonton rep (you'll find him listed in EEM, ECC, and the Goldbook). We'll arrange a demonstration, and bring along a record album of the top hits by the big bands of that other era. It's yours for allowing us to sound off a bit

Call or write: Boonton Elec-tronics Corp., Rt. 287 at Smith Rd., Farsippe.ny, New Jersey, 07054, Phone ( 201) 887-5110.

BOON TON

Í MODULATION

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Classified section FOR ENGINEERING/TECHNICAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED SALES REPRESENTATIVES Cievcând Mac Huestis . 216/781-7000 Houston .. Mike Taylor Atlanta Joe Lane . 404/892-2868 Dallas Mike Taylor 214/742-1747 Los Angeles . Stan Kassin . Boston . Holt Buchanan .. . 617/262-1160 Denver Shirley Klotz 303/837-1010 New York ... Larry Kelly Chicago .. Bill Higgens 312/751-3733 Detroit Mac Huestis. 313/873-7410 phaadephia Dan Ferro..

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XEROX 400 TELECOPIER • . 212/997-6800

ENGINEERS Colorado Career Opportunities

Controls Systems/Softwear Designer Minimum two years experience in analog and digital circuit design. Requires programming experience in assembly language, preferably related to the Intel 8080. Would be involved in micro processor design on hardware & software, as well as interfacing with the real world.

Controls Systems/Circuit Designer Minimum two years experience in analog and digital circuit design. Opportunity to work with a design team in design and development of controls, from establishment of specification through production and field evaluation.

Electronic Components Engineer Create cost effective methods to improve component reliability from design through manufacturing; perform analysis on failed components and identify corrective actions, and provide technical assistance to quality assurance and manufacturing.

Electronic Reliability Engineer Assist designers with reliability problems, create systems to improve design and field reliability, and perform reliability analysis, FMECA's, etc., with Electrical Design Engineers.

Electrical or Mechanical Engineer/ Magnetics Specialist

Engineer with several years experience in torque motors or similar products and associated controlled circuitry, to join a team developing a broad line of electrical actuators for industrial use. Analog and digital circuit design experience desirable.

Mechanical Engineers Minimum two years design experience with engine or turbine controls or diesel engine, gas turbine or steam turbine design. Must have BSME or equivalent experience.

Become a member of our well established, stable organization which offers an outstanding profit sharing plan, benefit program and excellent working conditions, in a highly desirable Colorado locality. Salary commensurate with experience. Please send resume to Personnel Department, WOOD WARD GOVERNOR COMPANY, P.O. Box 1519, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522, or call ( 303) 482-5811. We are an equal opportunity employer m/f.

W OODWAR

RATES $46 per advertising inch (//e"). Commissionable. SIZES '/8" to 10" deep in widths of one column ( 1%1, two (3 4"), three ( 5'8"). and four ( 7"). CLOSING Two weeks prior to mailing. MAILING One week prior to issue date. ISSUE DATE Every other Thursday. AD ORDERS/BOX NUMBER ANSWERS Send to Electronics Post Office Box 900 New York. N Y 10020

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER

Wanted by Univ. of Rochester Physics Dept., to develop new circuitry ( in collaboration with

research scientists), and to oversee operation of electronics shop.

Candidates should have B.S. in E.E. or physics. Ideal opportunity for learning and growth for a recent graduate. For further information

write: PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Box E University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627

have been placing graduate ENGINEERS

in FEE-PAID positions THROUGHOUT THE U.S. since I '59. Over 1,000 client companies. I We are graduate engineers work- I ing full-time for you. Send resume I & salary history today or request confidential application ATOMIC PERSONNEL, INC.

I Suite L 1518 Walnut St. Phila . Pa 19102

L. An Employment Agency FOf All Technical Fields

POSITIONS VACANT

Electronics Development Engineer North Carolina firm seeking EDE. Minimum 8 yrs. experience with major machining manufacturer in the development of electronic controls for cigarette making and packing ma-chines. College graduate. Preferably PE. 71/2 hour work day. Salary $ 18-25. 5K. Minimum travel. Excellent company benefits. Equal Opportunity Employer. Piedmont, North Carolina location. Send resume to Mrs. Beverly Wilson, Job Service, Box 82, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27102. Georgia Tech Engineering Experi-ment Station— Needs Electrical Engineers to perform defense systems analysis/operations re-search in client-oriented environ-ment. Computer Modeling and electronic system simulation experience desired. MSEE/MSIE re-quired. Send resume to Mr. R.P. Zim-mer, Engineering Experiment Station, Georgia Institute of Technology, At-lanta, Georgia 30332. An Equal Op-portunity Employer.

Director of Manufacturing for grow-ing telecommunications company, located in N.Y. Metropolitan area, with current experience in manu-facturing and assembling of electronic components for computer equipment. Salary range $40,000. Write in Strict Confidence, Executive Search. P-5836, Electronics.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICE

"WM To Get A Job Overseas" 253 pages! Jam-Packed info. + Directory 300 firms $5 Transworld, Box 90802-HR Los Angeles 90009.


FREE Your

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ELECTRONICS MANPOWER REGISTER Post Office Box 900 New York, N.Y. 10020

111 Litton

ENGINEERS: NEW GROWTH MEANS NEW OPPORTUNITY!

New long-term growth a/ Litton Systems Arrecom Divi-sion means fresh career opportunity for ambitious engineers who seek professional advancement

Check out these immediate career openings at all levels:

SOFTWARE SYSTEMS ENGINEERS *Real-time hedware controller

subsystems *Real-time systems processing *Assembly, Fcrtran, micro-code

languages

RF ENGINEERS * Microwave communications

and receiving systems * High Sensitivity DF Receivers * Solid state microwave

component design

ANALOG AND DIGITAL PROCESSING ENGINEERS * LSI application * High speed data conversion * Power supplies

ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEMS ENGINEERS *State of the Art ESM/ECM *Signal processing

U.S. CITIZENSHIP REQURED. All positions. Litton Systems offers excellent compensation, benefits, growth opportunity, and a professional work environmert. Please send your resume including salary history in confidence to: J. J. FitzGerald

Arnecom Division

LITTON SYSTEMS, INC.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM DESIGN ENGINEERS *Advanced digital subsystems

including TDM *RF and analog subsystems

including frequency synthesis and FDM techniques

*Microprocessors and related real-time operatiig systems software

* Voice switching systems

ELECTRONIC WARFARE PROCESSING —HARDWARE *Microwave subsystem design *Circuit design — RF, video, analog, high speed AID converters *EW digital subsystem design — signal sorting, microprocessors/ microcontroller design, computer interfacing

*Project engineering/design supervision

5115 Calvert Road College Park Md. 20740

An Equal Opportunity

Employer M/F.

Electronics/October 27, 1977 24.3

Engineers Analysts Scientists

THIS IS THE AD YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR This is for real. The BDM Corporation, today's most dynamic professional services company in defense and civil systems analysis, planning, prob-lem solving and policy research, is continuing its tremendous growth. This growth has resulted in a 30% average annual increase in sales during the last four years.

You can be a part of it, and share all the chal-lenge and opportunity that this growth signifies. We are now seeking men and women in the fol-lowing fields:

ENGINEERS • Survivability/Vulnerability • Communications • Aeronautics • Range Operations • Instrumentation • Electronic Warfare/Radar

COMPUTER SCIENTISTS • Modeling • Simulation • Data Management

ANALYSTS • Operations Research • Military Operations • Statistics • Test Planning

PHYSICISTS • Nuclear Effects • Lasers • Optics

There are immediate openings in metropoli-tan Washington, D.C.; Dayton, Ohio; Norfolk. Vir-ginia; Huntsville, Alabama; Nutley, New Jersey; and other national locations for degreed candi-dates with 2 to 8 years of experience.

We are concerned with nationally significant programs where there is big work to be done, where your own contributions will matter and will be recognized and rewarded. If you are highly motivated, both personally and professionally, this is truly the opportunity you have been looking for. Rush your resume, including salary requirements to: D. P. Godding, The BDM Corporation, 7915 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22101. An equal opportunity employer m/f. U. S. Citizenship re-quired.

CORPORATION

Application Engineer

You will provide technical leadership for these circuits; A/D, D/A, sample and hold circuits, voltage-to-frequency, frequency-to- voltage, phase locked loops, CCD and others by assisting product design engineers in their use. Other responsibilities will include developing software for automated test systems to assure component quality and reliability and introduce new components and component technology.

Several years of recent experience in analog circuit design with a combination of the above devices is necessary. Experience with high level programming language is desirable. Effective technical communication skills required.

Salary is open. Benefits include liberal insurance, educational support and profit sharing programs.

Send detailed resume and salary history to Roy Epperson, TEKTRONIX, INC., P.O. Box 500, E72, Beaverton, OR 97077.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/H

"MictronDc-CS3iV•MITTED TO Exc£LLErvu

Reliability Engineers Immediate career opportunities exist at all experience levels in the following areas:

Reliability Program Management Systems and Design Analysis Component Failure Analysis and Characterization System Reliability and Qualification testing

Degree required — BSEE or physics preferred; plus, experience in working with government space, avionics and surface electronic systems in any of the above areas is desirable.

You will participate in an excellent benefits program that includes, but is not limited to, a company-paid, ten-part insurance plan, two pension plans (one company-paid), personal investment plan, stock purchase plan and a 100% tuition refund program.

For consideration, please send resume, stating present salary, to:

R.A. Richmond, Dept. 302 Westinghouse P.O. Box 1693 Baltimore, MD 21203

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Westinghouse 244 Electronics/October 27, 1977

Engineering - Software Professionals

The New Em in Computer Controlled 'It*communications is U and that means exceptional career opportunity on the leading edge of a vast new technological frontier. GTE Automatic Electric is a world leader in this rapidly emerging new phase of one of the world's largest industries. You'll have the opportunity to advance your career in a highly professional environment ... and working with concepts that are ahead of existing technology.

Highly visible, and promotable positions are available for software professionals who have above-average credentials in definition and design at advanced levels in the following areas:

• Distributed Processing Architecture

• Computer Aided Design S Development • AD/DA Systems Interface

• Top-down Systems Design

• Data Base Systems • Real Time Systems

• Systems Diagnostics

• Signal Processing

• Stored Program Digital Systems • Telecommunication switching and control systems

(microprocessor or large CPU controlled)

• Large scale on-line systems management and executives

• Simulation

• Application Software

If you have recent experience in one or more of these areas and a BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Math or the equivalent in technical qualification and accomplishment, we would like to tell you more about this major expansion in our long term research and development program. We are committed to maintaining our position of leadership in this exciting new field, and as a member of the GTE Family (ranked among the top R&D spenders in industry in 1976), can provide you with the support and resources to do the job.

For rapid contact,

CALL COLLECT (312)681-7729 weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm cdt

Or forward your resume, including recent salary history to: Manager of Technical Employment, Dept. 471 A6

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LABORATORIES 400 N. Wolf Road Northlake, IL 60164

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F


TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, AT INTERSIL WE HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER.

If you're an electronics professional interested in joining the semi-conductor's most exciting company, consider these job opportu-nities at our San Francisco Peninsula headquarters.

Linear Process MOS Process/ Sustaining Engineer Sustaining Engineers

Process, sustaining and development in dif-fusion and epi for LIC product lines. College degree plus minimum of 1 year in diffusion and epi process engineering.

Product Engineers Failure analysis, customer returns, design, test and process interface, reliability and specification analysis. BSEE or physics plus at least 3 years product engineering experience.

—Metal Gate CMOS At least 1 year in metal gate CMOS essential.

Bipolar Process Sustaining Engineer

Mask ( photoresist) engineering for bipolar gold-doped product lines

Reliability Engineer MUS, CMOS and bipolar reliability activities including failure analysis on in-house life tests and customer returns, generating MTBF calculations and reliability reports for publications.

Test Engineer Write and debug test programs for Teradyne and Fairchild test equipment for testing CMOS and bipolar products.

Test Engineer Write test programs for testing new low power CMOS products; specification evalua-tion; maintenance of existing test equip-ment and associated software; some design of interface hardware for testers.

Process and sustaining engineering for MUS memories. 3-5 years in MUS process engineering. Strong knowledge of silicon and metal gate processing.

—Masking Requires photoresist background

—Diffusion Requires CVD, evaporation and/or thin film background.

Senior CMOS Process Engineer

Establish and sustain CMOS silicon-gate fabrication line.

Test System Design Engineer

Responsible for the development of processor based instrumentation systems for use in characterization and automated production ( parametric) testing of precision analog IC's. Additional responsibilities in.

systems documentation, parts specifi-cation and procurement, establishment of systems support capability, and training of technicians and junior engineers. Must be able to perform sophisticated software design and innovative hardware design with state-of-the-art analog and digital IC's.

Test Engineer Design and development of a micro-processor based test system; design of in-terface hardware for Teradyne and Fairchild test equipment and ESI laser trimming systems; software design and programming of testers.

Layout Designer Responsible for layout, design, composite and drafting of analog, CMOS, and MUS memories. At least 2 years semiconductor layout design experience is needed.

Interested candidates are invited to send resumes to INTERSIL, 10710 N. Tantau, Cupertino CA 95014. We are an equal opportunity employer m/f.

El IL Semiconductor

Division

-INSTRUMENTATION-&CONTROL ENGINEERS BS-MSEE

Principal Engineer to lead a group of EE's having total responsibility for on-line instru-mentation in film manufacture. Requires leadership qualities and approximately 10 years experi-ence in electro-mechanical in-strumentation. New England— to $30,000. Senior Electronic Engineer As project leader, will apply engi-neering and scientific principals and techniques to the design and development of microprocessor based systems and their applica-tion to process control. Requires minimum of 5-years related expe-rience including digital logic de-sign and firmware development. Upstate New York—to $24.000. Electronic Product Engineer involves the development of new analog-digital products from de-sign stage to production. Includes product improvement, perform-ance problem solving and defi-ciency correction. Requires at least one year in product design or manufacturing engineering with training in computer or micro-processor desirable. New England —to $22,000.

If you are interested in these or related opportunities, please reply in confidence to:

WETERRINGS& AGNEW PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT CONSULTANTS

475 MIDTOWN TOWER >q ,`, • 713, 454 3888

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Since 1969, we've been providing Confidential and Industry. Knowledgeable placement for individual Contributor, Project Leader, and Manager Level Professionals. Personal contact by former industry Personnel Professionals, with close ties throughout the local area, puts us in the position to find the right position for you. Listed below are Current and Immedi-ate requirements of Local and National client companies. These openings represent a cross-section of Industries, company sizes and applications. Most positions are multiple.

If you have been thinking of investigating new opportunities, we urge you to contact us, in confidence, for individual dis-cussions to particular opportunities in your career field, or to submit confidential resume with salary information for review. All irrerviews are by appointment. Client companies assume all fees. Professional resume preparation and career path counseng are provided free of charge. For those who find it inconvenient to call during working hours, our office will be open until 7:30 p.m.

ENGINEERING/ SCIENTIFIC SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT/ PROGRAMMING Contact: Robert Kleven

Mini Computer Programmers — Numerous Assignments in Real-Time, On- Line and Batch Environments. Positions involving Coding, Systems Design, Systems Test/Debug, and USER INTERFACE to various degrees, depending on com-pany. DEC PDP-8, DEC PDP-11, DATA GENERAL NOVA/ECLIPSE, GA, HONEYWELL 716/LEVEL-6, RDS 500/1200, PRIME, or VARIAN/UNIVAC Experience Desired, but any 12, 16, or 32 Bit Experience Acceptable. ASSEMBLER, FORTRAN OR MUMPS LANGUAGES.

Salary $ 12,000-$24,000

Micro Processor Software Development — Several positions in Vendor, OEM, and End User/System House Environment, 1 + years Experience with INTEL, MOTOROLA, ZILOG, FAIR-CHILD, or similar Micro Processor Systems. Application and Systems Software Development Opportunities available, including Micro Coding and Firmware Development.

Salary to $25,000

Communications Systems Software Development — Challenging positions with Small, Medium and Large Com-panies. 1+ years Experience in Asyn-chronous/Bysynchronous Communications, Terminal Inter-face/Development and 2780/3780 Emulation. ASSEMBLER LANGUAGE.

Salary to $ 16,000-$32,000

Applications Programmers — Backgrounds in Coding and implementation of Real-Time or On-Line Systems Utilizing Microprocessors, Minicomputers and/or Medium Systems. ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE AND FORTRAN. Background in RSX-11, RT-11 RSTS, RDOS, or other Real-Time Operating Systems highly desirable.

Salary $ 12,000-$24,000

Systems Pro9rammers (Operating Systems Design) — Background in Systems Software Development. Strong ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE Background. Will develop portions of Real-Time Minicomputer/MICROPROCESSOR Operating Systems.

Salary to $30,000

Diagnostic Programmers/Senior Diagnostic Programmers — Develop Fault Isolation Diagnostics for Real-Time Process Control, Communications and/or Graphics Systems. Several challenging positions available in both small and large firms.

Salary $16,000-$23,000

Text Editing/Composition Systems Programmers and Analysts — Several challenging positions to Develop new Minicomputer/Microprocessor Based Interactive Graphics Systems. DEC PDP-11 and/or DEC Systems- 10 Experience desired.

Salary to $23,000

Manager Special Systems Software — Challenging position in medium sized Graphics Computer Systems Firm.

Salary to $32,000

Systems Engineers — Conduct Hardware/Software tradeoffs and Systems Integration functions, minicomputer environ-ment. B.S.E.E./M.S.E.E. preferred.

Salary to $25,000

Microprocessor Architects — Provide Technical Leadership in development of new High-Speed Microcoded Floating Point Processors, and Minicomputer/Terminal Systems. M.S.E.E./M.S.C.S. preferred.

Salary to $40,000.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS Contact: Robert Norton

Computer Architects — BS/MSEE and 3-5 years of exper-ience in the definition and development of Minicomputer Systems. Will be a principal participant in developing a new family of computer systems.

Salary to $40,000

Microprocessor Design Engineers — BS/MSEE with detailed CPU architecture and software background. Position entails logic design simulation and prototyping.

Salary to $30,000

Systems Engineers — BSEE and extensive experience in the design and development of Mag Tapes, Discs, etc, and knowledge of diagnostic software. Binary Synchronous Com-munications background would be helpful.

Salary to $25,000

Sr. Power Supply Design Engineers — BSEE and 3-5 years of Design and Development of regulated and non- regulated power supplies. The application of this work will be to build an in-house capability within a systems organization.

Salary to $25,000

Digital Logic & Circuit Design Engineers — BSEE and some experience in Logic and Circuit Design, including a familiar-ity with DTL, TTL, CMOS, etc.

Salary to $25,000

Computer Interface Engineers — BSEE with experience in Logic Design. Will work on team designing interface circuitry between Digital Computers and between Digital Computers and different types of Hardware.

Salary to $25,000

Process Control Engineers — Degree in Engineering with background in Computer Sciences. 3-5 years of experience in the Application of Process Control Computers within the Petrochemical, Chemical, Pulp and Paper or Textile Industries.

Salary to $28,000

Test Equipment Design Engineers — BSEE with Digital Design experience in developing prototype test equipment within a Systems Environment.

Salary to $25,000

AID-DIA Converter Engineers — 3-5 years of experience in Analog and Digital Design utilizing discrete components. Hybrid Thick and Thin Film Processes and Monolithic IC's.

Salary to $24,000

Radar/Microwave Engineers — BSEE and a minimum of six years experience in the design of active microwave circuits involving rada' transmitters and receivers.

Salary to $30,000

*Norton, Kleven and Ca,Inc Industrial Relations Management Consultants Three Fletcher Avenue, Lexington, MA 02173

Telephone (617) 861-1020

Representing Equal Opportunity Employers M/F

Member, Massachusetts Professional Placement Consultants


r Engineers

Positions Available In Our Modern Plant Located Within 30 Minutes Of

Milwaukee, Wis. And 1 Hour Of Chicago, II.

Eaton, a FORTUNE 150 Corporation, is seeking:

* Senior Project Inverter Design Engineer

Candidate must have 8-10 years experience in power electronics design/development with an em-phasis on inverters. Must have proven achievements in inverter power circuit design and development. Some systems background desirable. BSEE Degree necessary. Must be capable of Senior Project Engineer responsibility in inverter design/develop-ment.

* Power Electronics Packaging Engineer

Candidate must have 5-8 years experience in high power electronics packaging. Should be capable of handling the thermo, mechanical and electrical aspects of high power electronics packaging. Must be capable of handling project engineering level responsibility in packaging high power industrial electronics.

LIF:T•N In F., pal Oppietunin If I.

Qualified candidates will receive an excellent start-ing salary commensurate with experience plus one of the finest company paid benefit programs.

Please Submit Resume With Salary History To Employee Relations Supervisor

EATON Corporation Industrial Drives Operation

Kenosha Division 3122 14th Ave.

Kenosha, Wis 53140

SEMINAR INSTRUCTORS Microprocessor-Minicomputers Management & Applications One to Five Day Sessions In U.S., Canada & Europe

Send resume & dates available to: SIR JOHN CO. Box 7143

Overland Park, Ks. 66207 (913) 649-8952

ELECTRONIC DESIGN ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS

Design and develop custom electronic control assemblies and solid state sensors for use in a broad line of industrial applications. Products uti-lize a wide range of analog and digital components including microprocessors in con-junction with electromechanical devices.

Minimum Requirements: Engineers: BSEE Degree and 3 or

more years' circuit design experience

Technicians: Associate Degree or equivalent and 5 or more years' industrial related experience.

Salary commensurate with education and experience. P&B is an electronic & elec-tromechanical manufacturer and offers an ex-cellent benefit package, good working conditions and high growth rate. Please submit resume and salary requirement to:

AMF INCORPORATED POTTER & BRUMFIELD DIVISION

200 Richland Creek Drive— Princeton, Indiana 47671

Attn: Peggy A. Michas I 1pportuniry Employer IF

We're Looking For Exceptional Talent

We've openings for both hardware and software people, engineers and programmers capable of innovative multidisci-plinary design. You will play key roles in developing our ambi-tious new digital business system, a pioneering effort with strong emphasis on human interface engineering. We offer you exposure to the entire range of current electronic technologies and expect you to be proficient in at least a few of the following disciplines:

digital systems architecture network architecture & protocols common carrier interfacing logic system design circuit design language design hardware/software partitioning displays and keyboards A-D/D-A conversion signal processing RF transmission techniques data communication microprocessor design fault-tolerant design performance measurement

Our dynamic West Coast group is rapidly expandine and of-fers unusual opportunities for advancement. If you re ready for this kind of challenge, please send your resume to

Burroughs Corporation

Attention: Barbara Rausin, Dept E-1027 460 Sierra Madre Villa

Pasadena, California 91109


MAKE YOUR

NEXT

MOVE A STEP

IN THE

RIGHT

DIRECTION

The road to professional fulfillment can be a real jun-gle. We can help you find the right path. Our affiliation with

keeps us informed of oppor-tunities in the ELECTRONICS industry from coast to coast as they occur. Together with over 190 associates, we offer our knowledge and ex-pertise at no charge to you. Fees are company paid.

CAREER SPECIALISTS/ ARIZONA, INC.

P.O. Box 16262 Phoenix, Arizona 85011 ( 602) 967-8786

THE MILWAUKEE CONSULT-ING GROUP, INC.

600 East Mason Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 (414) 276-2414

SOUTHERN MANAGEMENT REGISTRY

P.O. Box 4036 Charlotte, North Carolina 28204

(704) 372-7640

JIM KING & ASSOCIATES Electronics Division 438 Gulf Life Tower Jacksonville, Florida 32207 (904) 398-7371

BRENTWOOD PERSONNEL ASSOCIATES Electronics Division 1280 Route 46 Parsippany, New Jersey 07054

(201) 335-8700

WETERRINGS & AGNEW, INC.

425 Midtown Tower Rochester, New York 14604 (716) 454-3888

Quality of Life

— y-

Providence

[(A in)1to

•

Proyincetown

Plymouth

Cape Cod

Martha s Vineyard Nantucket

If the quality of life is as important to you and to your family as the progress of your career, we invite you to investigate both at The Foxboro Company.

We've been a New England institution for 70 years that today is a Fortune 500 Company with annual dollar shipments in excess of $328 million and 10,000 employees worldwide; we are still breaking new ground in the design and development of microprocessor based and digital Process Management and Control Systems.

As big as we are we still care about our employees. Almost fifty percent of our openings are filled through internal promotions.

Because of our location, you and your family will be close to the cultural, educational and entertainment centers of Boston and Providence, and the winter and summer playgrounds of New England. adding to the quality of their lives in the Foxboro area.

Component Engineer This individual will work closely

with designers in the selection of components and will issue and main-tain the Corporate Qualification Specifications and Qualified Vendor List for Electronic and Electro-mechanical Components. Will also seek out alternate component sources for existing and new com-ponents, obtain samples, perform acceptance test and vendor surveys. Will be responsible for conducting failure analysis of components, sub-assemblies and final assemblies and identifying the required corrective action. BSEE required: MSEE desirable.

Five years' experience in component/ reliability engineering, with recent involvement in CMOS and [SI tech-nologies. Failure analysis experience and circuit design analysis capability required.

Product Engineer (Electronic) You will assist in the development

of new analog/digital products and introduce them into production. Will implement design changes to correct design deficiencies, reduce costs, add features and resolve product perform-ance problems. Will be responsible for documentation to support these efforts. BS in Electrical Engineering. At

least one to three years' experience in electronic product. design or manufacturing engineering. Experi-ence or training in microprocessors or Computer Science is desirable.

Development Project Engineer (Electronic System Products)

Responsibilities will include: plan-ning, scheduling and budgeting of project tasks: feasibility studies, design reviews, engineering documentation reviews on new products: technical supervision of engineers working on the project.

Requires BSEE (MSEE or MSCS) or equivalent with at least 6 years' experience in the design, test. evaluation and documentation of com-plex electronic system products. Design experience using complex ICS ( both Bi-polar and MOS based) is essential. Familiarity with power and packaging problems with high speed digital sys-tems is essential.

Senior Design Engineer (Logic & Microprocessor Based Systems)

Will be responsible for new product development including design of com-plex subsystems; technical supervision of engineers and technicians, feasi-bility studies: design and documenta-tion reviews. etc.

BSEE (MSEE or MSCS) with at least five years' experience in the de-sign. test, evaluation and documenta-tion of complex electronic system products required. Experience with LSI IC's and Microprocessors is a require-ment. Experience in the design of high speed complex digital controllers for peripherals. MMI devices and process I 0 subsystems is essential.

Send resume, including salary history. to Mike Boyd, Dept. 10E, The Foxboro Company, 38 Neponset Avenue, Foxboro, MA 02035. Foxboro is an equal opportunity employer, M/F.

PDXBORO


Software Development Engineer LSI /CAD

The position requires a person with substantial experience in the design of advanced LSI circuits, with knowledge of CAD systems. Specific experience should include design rule verification of LSI circuits, testing of digital LSI circuits or experience with development of manual or automated layout systems.

BSEE or equivalent experience necessary as well as experience in programming scientific applications.

Salary is open. Benefits include liberal insurance, educational support and profit sharing programs.

Send detailed resume and salary history to Mary Walhood, TEKTRONIX, INC., P.O. Box 500, E85, Beaverton, Oregon 97077.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/H.

lbictrom"x COMMITTED TO EXCEIJ_ENCE

SEMTECHI11141CORPORATION ri

Expanding manufacturer of quality power rectifiers offers excellent opportunity for:

MOS PROCESS ENGINEER PHOTORESIST

Participates in bringing into production a new generation of field effect power transistors.

Requires BS in Electronics or Physics plus a minimum

of 3 years' experience in MOS wafer fabrication.

Salary commensurate with experience and ability. Excellent benefits including profit sharing.

Send resume with complete salary history to:

SEMTECH CORPORATION 652 Mitchell Road

Newbury Park, Calif. 91320

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F

DUNHILL OF PORTLAND brings client and candi-date together with a unique marketing service. Full service to the electronics industry nation-wide. Contact Keith Nyman, Dunhill of Portland, Inc., 806 SW Broadway, Portland, Ore. 97205, ( 503) 224-

We are exclusively employer retained.

THE ANSUL COMPANY NEEDS AN

ELECTRONICS DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER Opportunity for degreed Electrical Engineer with several years experi-ence in analog and digital design.

Responsibilities include: design and development of electronic peripher-al circuits and devices for new automatic fire protection system: maintain adapt and revise existing systems: act as advisory to our Manufacturing. Marketing and Quality Assurance people and coordinate contracts for product approvals with Underwriters Laboratories, Factory Mutual, etc.

You'll work at our world headquarters in Marinette. Wisc., an attractive small city on the shores of Green Bay. Here you'll find good schools (including a University Center), pleasant small city living and a rich vari-ety of outdoor recreational activities. Ansul is a dynamic $ 100 million international company producing fire protection equipment and specialty industrial chemicals.

Send resume and salary history to:

Eric R. Heiberg THE ANSUL COMPANY One Stanton Street Marinette, Wisconsin 54143

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER M/F

MINORITIES AND WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

PHYSICIST Printronix is a rapidly growing company located in Orange County, California, and has an opening for a Physicist with several years of practical experience in magnetic applications. A BS or MS degree is required with knowledge of permanent magnetic materials and characteristics for development of hammer mechanisms for computer printers.

We offer an excellent working environment, benefits, and professional growth opportunities.

Please send your resume to Cris Saunders:

17421 Derian Avenue Irvine, CA 92714

An equal opportunitv employer IN IF

1111111111

PRII\ITRON IX

RATES $46 per advertising inch (' s"). Commtssionable.

SIZES '8" to 10" deep in widths of one column ( 1's"), two (338"), three ( 5'8"), and four ( 7").

CLOSING Two weeks prior to mailing. MAILING One week prior to issue date. ISSUE DATE Every other Thursday. AD ORDERS/BOX NUMBER ANSWERS Send to Electronics. Post Office Box 900. New York. N.Y 10020.


PROJECT ENGINEERS

For a young and dynamic organi-zation IN ISRAEL which extends its activity for consulting in Industrial application of:

COMPUTER CONTROL PROJECTS PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS

MICRO COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

Duties include advising and lead-ing junior engineers.

Qualifications include initiative to promote new and advanced projects in Israeli industry.

Prefered 5 years of industrial experience. Write to

The Industrial Automation Institute Israel Institute Of Productivity

4, Henrietta Szold St P OS. 33010 Tel-Aviv, Israel

SENIOR INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEER

Instrumentation and control engineer with a minimum of five years experience in the design of analog and digital process control systems, utilizing electronic hardware, firmware and some software experience in the wastewater field prefera-ble. Position is with an es-tablished consulting engineering firm in southeastern Michigan. Degree in electrical engineering required.

HUBBELL, ROTH & CLARK, INC. P.O. BOX 824 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48013

Attentiort Mr. Frank M. Barnes

WHERE DO YOU FIT? In today's job market, that is. One way to see if you're in demand is to check the employment opportuni-ties contained in ELEC-TRONICS' Classified Sec-tion.

Another way to get a reading on your value is to place a blind ( box num-ber) Position Wanted ad there. The cost is low ( only $1.25 per line) and the results are often reward-ing.

For more information call or write:

ELECTRONICS Post Office Box 900 New York, N.Y. 10020

Phone: 212/997-2556

COMMUNICATION EXPERTS

FORD SIGNALS A NEW CAREER

The Electrical and Electronics Division is gearing to meet the demands of the technological revolution in automatic communications systems. Ford Motor Company will continue as a leader in communication techniques and design. We are seeking an individual that can make immediate and significant contribu-tions to our Advanced Entertainment Activity as a Principal Engineer.

QUALIFICATIONS • BSEE/MSEE preferred • Proven Cost effective innovation record • At least 5 years experience in high technology

communications engineering, i.e., digital fre-quency synthesis, phase lock loops, active and solid state filters, and custom LSI ( digital and linear) application.

• RF signal experience necessary, exposure to other electronic control devises is preferred.

• 1-2 years supervisory experience. Ford Represents exciting opportunity for this indi-vidual. The position offers an excellent salary and is located near Dearborn, Michigan. Benefits include fully paid life, hospital and disability insurances, dental and retirement programs, and lease car privi-leges. An attractive savings and stock investment plan is also available.

Please reply in confidence to:

Electrical & Electronics Division

Attn: Salaried Personnel P.O. Box 2053 EEE Building— Room B-094 Dearborn, Michigan 48121

lc rum Ernpl.wr


Electronics advertisers October 27, 1977

• Abbott Transistor Labe 6 Dit-MCO 186 • Johanson Manufacturing Corp. 234

• Adret Electronique 62 • Digital PDP 162-163 Kapusi Laboratories 226

• Allen-Bradley 32 lw Digital TPL 170 Kennedy Company 189

Allied Chemical Co., Metglas Products 211 The Dylon Corporation 204 • M. 8. Kennedy Corp. 222

American Microsystems Inc. 66-67 : Eastman Kodak Co., Graphic Markets Division 15 • Kepco, Inc. 5

American Optical-Scientific Instr. Div. 180 • ECD Corp. 119 • Lambda Electronics 193-202

AMF Potter 8 Brumfield 217 • E-H Research Labs 182 • Lear Siegler-Data Products Div. 79

• Amp, Inc. 18-19 • E&L Instruments 234 $ ***** metric, Div. Metric Resources Corp. 155

Analog Devices 171 * Electro Rent Corp. 207 Litronix 205

Anritsu Electric Co., Ltd. 156 Electronic Navigation Industriee 154 • LTT 60

Ansley (Thomas li Betts) 116 Elevarn Electronic Tube Co., Ltd. 213 • Magnecraft Electric 3rd C.

• A P Products, Incorporated 253 • Eiger Corporation 212 • Magnin Morelli 15E

Axiom 53 EMR-Telemetry 224 Mallory Capacitor Company 187

• Ballentine Laboratories 100 Erie Technological Products 208 •• Matsuo Electric Co. Ltd. 214

•• Beckman Instruments 17E Etatech Inc. 232 • Matsushita Electric Trading Company 183

Belden Corporation 144 Figaro Engineering, Inc. 8 McCoy Electronics Co. 158

• F. W. Bell, Inc., Div. of Arnold Eng. Lk Allegheny 158 Ludlum • John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. 115, 177 MDB Systems 253

Berg Electronics Div. of Dupont 157 Fujitsu America Inc. 9 Micro Power Systems 25

Boonton Electronics 241 Futek Corp. 216 • Microswitch, Div. of Honeywell 229

Bummer Computer Devices, Inc. 213 Gates Energy Products Inc. 231 • Microwave Power Devices 36E, 37E

• Burr Brown 7E OCA Sunnyvale 164 Mitel Semiconductor, Inc. 50

• Carlo Erba SA 47 GEC M-0 Valve 6E Modular Computer Systems 30-31

• Cambridge Thermionic Corp. 178 General Electric Miniature Lamp 210 Monolithic Memories 123

Centronics 138 General Electric, Plastics (Valox) 130 $ Monolithic Systems Corporation 169

• Cherry Electrical Products 147 General Instrument, Microelectronics 45 Mostek Corp. 20-21

Chomerics Inc. 166 General Magnetics 258 Motorola Communications 6 Electronics 124

• Clairex Electronics 4th C • GenRad 65 Mupro Inc. 99

S. C. P. Clare A Company 214 • Grayhill, Inc. 165 Murata Mfg. Co., Ltd. 18E

Continental Rentals, Div. Continental Resources 8 $ Grundy, Inc. 60 Neff Corporation 223

• Continental Specialties 237 • Hamlin Inc. 32E NEOHM SPA 185

• Control Data Corporation 137 • Hewlett-Packard 1,2.230 Nichicon America Corporation 225

S CTS Corporation 47 • ILC Data Device Corporation 35 Nikkei Electronics 203

• Custom Electronics 184 Information Terminals Corporation 220 • Non-Linear Systems, Inc. 208

I Cutler-Hammer Speciality Products Div. 189 Intech / Function Modules 213 • North Atlantic Industries 52

• Dana Labs 129 Intel Memory Systems 22-23 • Opto 2/

Data General Corp. 12-13 Intel-Microcomputer Components 70_71 • Dialogued: 24E

Data I/O Corporation 107 Intel Micro Computer System* 86-87 $ Panasonic, Industrial Div. 185

Detepro R h Corporation 254 International Electronic Research Corp. 232 Parstronics Inc. 26

• Data Translation ( Datation) 51 international Microcircuits Inc. 170 Pert« Computer Corp. 227

Harry Davies Molding Co. 255 Interswitch 176 Pert« Pad 4E-5E

Delco Electronics, Div. Gen Motors 150-151 Intersil 54-55 Philipe ELA 39E

• Delevan Div., American Precision Ind. 188 Interstate Electronics 179, 133 Philips Elam. 25E

• Dialight 233 • Unite' / SIT 31E, 35E Philips Industries 10-11

Digi-Dats Corp. 255 lwatsu Electric Company, Ltd. 190 •• Philips TMI 29E


How to save up to 50% on flat cable/connectors just by _ changing colors.

Faster is what and easier) we're all about.

It's easy to spot new Great JumpersTeA and Great Daisy Jumpersne from A P Products. Our ribbon is Electric Pink. And we're jumps ahead of any other flat cable/connector system. We come to you fully factory assembled and tested. Our connectors are molded on

and feature integral strain relief plus complete line-by-line probeability. Nothing could be easier to use. And we cost less.

Just name your jump and watch us hop to it. We offer the five most popular flat cable widths, solid or stranded Electric Pink or rainbow cable, single ended, double ended or daisy chained. And Great Jumpers are directly-interchangeable replacements for the jumpers you're using now. Connect with the A P rep nearest you.

(203) 868-7748 (216) 333-4120 (314) 576-4111 (205) 883-9630 (301) 484-5400 (414) 671-1945 (206) 822-8223 (303) 420-4646 (415) 328-3232 (212) 682-5844 (305) 295-5760 (416) 638-1322 (213) 246-7119 (305) 564-3081 (512) 459-0761 (214) 238-0408 (312) 298-4830 (513) 433-0966 (215) 923-5195 (313) 642-0203 (602) 946-4437 If no rep in your area call Toll-Free 800-321-9668

P PRODUCTS INCORPORATED Box 110 • 72 Corwin Drive Painesville, OH 44077 (216) 354-2101 TWX: 810-425-2250

(609) 429-4013 (612) 922-7011 (617) 272-8163 (713) 960-1962 (714) 560-6266 (716) 633-7970 (919) 788-8145


MDB SYSTEMS presents...The DEC PDP-lr Connection GP Logic Modules • Peripheral Controllers • Communications Interfaces • Special Purpose Modules New: MDB DR11C General

Purpose Interface and MDL-11 Asynchronous Serial Line Adapter

MDB Systems products always equal and usually exceed the host manufacturer's specifications and performance for a similar interface. MDB interfaces are software and diagnostic trans-parent to the host computer. MDB products are competitively priced; delivery is usually within 14 days ARO or sooner.

Here are some MDB Systems connections to DEC PDP-11 computers: 1=1 General Purpose Interfaces

11C Module with 16 bit input and 16 bit output registers; 20 user wire wrap positions.

Pins and sockets optional. 1710 Module with 40 IC posi-

tions for user logic; sockets optional.

11B Direct Memory Access Module with 12 IC positions for user logic.

DRIIC, a direct DEC equivalent. Digital I/O Module. Wire Wrappable Module with

70 IC positions, sockets optional.

Unibus Terminator. D Communications Modules

MDL-11 Asynchronous Line Adapter.

MDL-11W Asynchronous Line

Adapter with line frequency clock.

MDU-11 Synchronous Serial Line Adapter.

D Device controllers for most major manufacturer's

Printers Card equipment Paper tape equipment

All controllers are software transparent and use PDP-11 diagnostics.

Check first with MDB Systems for your PDP-11 computer interface requirements.

MDB also supplies interface modules for Data General NOVA* and Lnterdata computers and for DEC's LSI-11 microprocessor.

MDB SYSTEMS, INC.

1995 N. Batavia St., Orange, California 92665 714/998-6900 TWX: 910-593-1339

•TMs Digital Equipment Corp. & Data General Corp.

CIRCLE 82 FOR PDP-11: 83 FOR NOVA; 84 FOR INTERDATA; 85 FOR LSI-11. 253

micro processors An in-depth reuiew and workshop

A comprehensive, three-day intro-duction to microprocessors that will help designers, planners, managers and others to understand and utilize these low-cost "computers on a chip." The seminar examines currently available microprocessor hardware and software, provides hands-on de-sign experience, and looks at future trends and developments. Designed for all persons active in or contem-plating the use of microprocessor technology, the course addresses both the technical and management interests of today's forward-looking EDP practitioner.

A microprocessor development sys-tem will be available for hands-on use by attendees during the workshop, and at optional evening workshop sessions.

Upon completion of the course, the attendee will be knowledgeable of the state-of-the-art in microprocessors, and will have implemented simple programs on an 8080 development system. In addition, he should be better prepared to apply microproc-essor technology to his applications.

At your mace... Fixed fee presentations in your facility

...OP Ours Individual enrollments open for

• New York. Nov. 9-11 • San Francisco. Dec. 7-9

for

FREE COURSE OUTLINE and full schedule of EDP seminars call

800-257-9406

dapro 1805 Underwood Blvd Delran, NJ 08075

In NJ, call 609-764-0100

Plastic* Engineering Company

Plessey Semiconductors

• Powermate

• Precision Monolithic. Inc.

• Princeton Applied Research Corp.

• Procond S.P.A.

Program Data Incorporated

Pro-Log

• Quest Automation

Racal Thermionic Ltd.

• Radiohm S.A.R.L.

Ram tek

Raytheon Co. Industrial Components

Reliability, Inc.

Reticon Corporation

Rhone Poulenc-Chimie Fine

Rockwell International

Rockwell Microelectronic Device Division 120-121

• Rohde & Schwarz

Rotron, Inc

Sakata Seisakusho

Sangamo Data Recorder Division

• SEPA S.p.A.

• Sfernice

• SGS ATES

• Shell International Chemical

• Siemens AG Munich

Siliconix

• Simpson Electric

• Socleco

Sorensen, Div. of Raytheon

• SPI ITT

Sprague Electric

Standard Grigsby

$ Standard Microsystems

• Superior Electric

Synertek

Systron-Donner, Concord

TEAC Corporation

• Tecnetica

• Tektronix

• Tektronix

• Tektronix Datatek NV

Teledyne PhIlbrick

259

235

28-29, 95

161

33E

214

209

36-37

159

238 Teledyne Relay*

108 Teletype

228 • Telonic Altair

68,69 Teradyne, Inc

255 Texas Instruments, Components

16E Textool Products, Inc.

14E • Thomson CSF Division D.T.E.

38 T-K Enterprises

40E Triplett Corporation

2E-3E • TRW LSI Products

59 • TRW RF Semiconductors

74-75 t• TRW/ UTC Transformers

155 • TRW Cinch Connectors

220 • Union Carbide Corp., Parylene

77 United Detector Technology

191 United Systems Corp., Sub. Monsanto

10-11 • Universal Voltronics

Vacuumschmelze

lE Victor Comptometer

160 • Victory Engineering

Viking Industries

152 Vitramon, incorporated

22E $• Wabash Electronics

19E-21E • Wavetek Indiana

23E •• Wavetek Indiana

10E- 11E

13E

80-81

215

8E

43

38E

• Wavetek San Diego

Wilhelm Westermann

Wiltron Co.

17

143

181

72

174-175

14

15

208

26E

49

88-89

183

219

221

218

168

7

178

206

176

167

239

59

103

169

207

16

230

Classified and employment advertising F J Eberle, Manager 212-997-2557

AMF/Brumfleld Annul Company Atomic Personnel BDM Corporation

56 Burroughs Corporation Dunhill of Portland, Inc. Eaton Corporation Ford Motor Company Foxboro Company

62 GTE Automatic Electric Lab. Hubbell, Roth a, Clerk, Inc. Intersil Israel Inst. of Productivity Litton Systems, Amecon Div. National Personnel Norton Kleven a Co., Inc. Printronix

27 Rochester University of Semtech Corporation Sir John Co. Tektronix Westinghouse Whitteringa a Agnew Woodward

248 250 242 244 248 250 248 251 249 245 251 246 251 243 249 247 250 242 250 248

244,250 244 246 242

• For more information of complete product line see advertisement in the latest Electronics Buyers Guide

• Advertisers in Electronics International $ Advertisers in Electronics domestic edition

Circle 254 on reader service card Electronics/October 27, 1977

INSTRUMENT CASES and

MATING COVERS with NO TOOLING COSTS

STANDARD SIZES:

Break-resistant quality— excellent dielectric

strength for insulation—high

lustre finish requires no pairting—in

industry approved sizes that are

ideal for nousing test equipment,

electrical or electronic controls.

No. 220-4" long x 2-7/8" wide x 1.9/16" deep No. 221—Mating cover for No. 22(: ease No. 230-5" long o 4-1/4" wide x 1-3/4" deep No. 231—Mating cover for No. 230 case No. 240-6-1/4" long x 3.3/4" ,vide x 2" deep No. 241—Mating cover for No. 240 case No. 260-6.3/16" long, o 5-9/32" wide x

2-5./12" deep No. 261—Mating cover for No. 26C case No. 280-8-7/16" long x 7.7/16" wide x

3-1/64" deep No. 281—Mating cover for No. 280 case

Samples

and prices

furnished

promptly.

HARRY DAVIES MOLDING COMPANY 4920 W. Bloomingdale Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 60639

Circle 251on reader service card

You don't miss a thing with a PARC 4513 FFT Spectrum Analyzer

• • lb 0 0 o •-•

Compared to Brand X we provide: • 5 times the frequency resolution • 5 times the processing speed for

greater Real Time Bandwidth plus these other features: • spectral averaging • transient capture • dc- 10 Hz to dc-20 kHz, eleven

ranges • optional Real & Imaginary outputs all at a spectacular base price of $ 8,150.

Write or call today, to get all the facts—so you can compare for your-self. Princeton Applied Research Corporation, P. O. Box 2565, Princeton, New Jersey 08540; phone: 609/452-2111.

proneEron APPI,IIED RESEARCH en.,›EGEG


Their Computer; Our Tape Deck, Your Gain! Still putting up with year- long delivery waits for tape decks from your minicomputer vendor? Digi-Data's compatible magnetic tape systems are yours in one fourth the time ... and for half the price. Whether your minicomputer is the DEC PDP-11, the Data General Nova or Eclipse, or the HP 2100/21 MX, you have a practical alternative ... and with extra choices in the bargain!

You can get the tape deck alone, or with formatter and computer interface. Specify 7- in., 81/2-in. or 101/2-in, reel size. Get different speeds, plus either NRZ or phase-encoded formats and total playback/record inter-changeability with any other ANSI-compati-ble computer tape. Get all these advantages, along with the reliability and ease of main-tenance of Digi-Data's complete minicom-puter tape system, proven in thousands of installations. Now add our 2:1 price edge and 60-90 day delivery, ard it's no wonder Digi-Data tops them all.

For a full product catalog and details on ordering single units or quantities, call or write today.

DIGI-DATA CORPORATION 8580 tior;ey Run Road. Jessup, MD ?0-94 (301) 498-0200

... First in Value!


No of

copien

wanted

ELECTRONICS REPRINTS New reprints

R-718 Display makers strive to refine their technologies 8 pp $3.00

- R-716 Special report- Japanese wave

in semiconductor technology 24

pp $3.00 R-714 Special report- active filter

technology 6 pp $3.00

R-713 Electron- beam lithography

draws fine line 10 pp $3.00 R-712 Special report- large-scale inte-

gration 16 pp $3.00

- R-710 Personal computers mean busi-

ness 8 pp $2.00

R-708 So you want to be a consultant

6 pp $2.00

Charts - R-516 Electronic symbols $2.00

- R-213 Electromagnetic spectrum (up-

dated 1976) $3.00 - R-326 Optical spectrum (6-page report

and chart) $3.00

Books R-711 Circuits for electronics engi-

neers: 306 circuits in 51 func-

tional groups- Electronics Book

Series $ 15.95

- R-704 Thermal design in electronics

$5.00 - R-701 Applying microprocessors-

Electronics Book Series $9.95 R-608 Basics of Data Communica-

tions- Electronics Book Series

$12.95

R-602 Large Scale Integration - Elec-

tronics Book Series $9.95

R-520 Microprocessors- Electronics

Book Series $8.95

- R-011 Computer-aided Design 135 pp

$4.00

R-032 Active Filters 88 pp $4.00

Other reprints R-706 Low-cost dual delayed sweep

method 6 pp $2.00

R-705 Powering up with linear ICs 12

pp $3.00

R-703 Special report- memories

16 pp $3.00 R-702 World market report 1977 24 pp

$4.00

R-616 Special issue- technology up-date $4.00

R-614 Power supply choices for so-

phisticated designs 8 pp $3.00 R-612 Fiber-optic communications

special report 24 pp $3.00

R-610 Special report on hybrid-circuit

technology 19 pp $3.00

R-606 Special issue- microprocessors $4.00

- R-526 How reliable are today's compo-

nents 16 pp $3.00

R-600 World market report 1976 24 pp

$4.00

R-524 Special report on bipolar large-

scale integration 12 pp $3.00 R-522 Special report on power semi-

conductors 12 pp $3.00

R-518 Special issue- productivity $4.00

R-514 Eight ways to better radio

receiver design 6 pp $3.00 R-512 Design of circuits for dangerous

environments 4 pp $2.00 R-510 Bipolar advances with Pt_ micro-

processor 8 pp $2.00

R-508 Designing microprocessors with

standard logic 12 pp $3.00 - R-506 The case for component burn-in

7 pp $2.00

R-434 Designing systems with the stan-

dard interface 12 pp $3.00

R-432 An update on communications

satellites 8 pp $2.00

Make Check or money order payable to Electronics Reprints. All orders are shipped prepaid

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ELECTRONICS REPRINTS

P.O. Box 669

Hightstown, N.J. 08520

Name

Company Dept

Street

City State Zip

Advertising Sales Staff

Advertising sales manager: Paul W. Reiss 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020 (212] 997-4371 Atlanta, Ga. 30308: Glen N. Dougherty 100 Colony Square, 1175 Peachtree St., N.E. (404) 892-2868 Boston, Mate. 02118: Frank Mitchell 607 Boylston St. [617] 262-1160 Chicago, Ill. 80811 645 North Michigan Avenue Robert W. Bartlett (312) 751-3739 Robert M. Denmead [312] 751-3738 Cleveland, Ohio m113: William J. Boyle [716] 586-5040 Dallas, Texas 75201: John J. Uphues 2001 Bryant Tower, Suite 1070 [214] 742-1747 Denver, Colo. 80209: Harry B. Doyle. Jr. 123 Speer Blvd. *400 (303) 837-1010 Detroit, Michigan 41202 Robert W. Bartlett 1400 Fisher Bldg. [313] 873-7410 Houston, Texas 77002: John J. Uphues 601 Jefferson Street, Dresser Tower [713] 659-8381 Los Angeles, Calif. 90010: Robert J. Rielly Bradley K. Jones, 3200 Wilshire Blvd., South Tower [213] 487-1160 Minneapolis, Minn. 55435: Robert M. Denmead 4015 W. 65th St. (312) 751-3738 New York, N.Y. 10020 1221 Avenue of the Americas Michael J. Stoller [212] 997-3616 Matthew T. Reseska [212] 997-3617 Philadelphia, Pa. 19102: Matthew T. Reseska Three Parkway [212] 997-3617 Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222 Matthew T. Reseska 4 Gateway Center [212] 997-3617 Rochester, N.Y. 14534: William J. Boyle 1175 Pittsford-Victor Rd.. Pittsford, N.Y. (716] 586-5040 San Francisco, Calif. 94111: Don Farris Robert J. Rielly, 425 Battery Street. (415) 362-4600 Paris: Patrick Mouillard 17 Rue-Georges Bizet, 75116 Paris, France Tel: 720-73-01 Geneva: 1 rue du Temple, Geneva, Switzerland Tel: 32-35-63 United Kingdom à Scandinavia: Robert Ghey 34 Dover Street, London W1 Tel: 01-493-1451 Scandinavia: Andrew Karnig and Assoc. Kungsholmsgatan 10 112 27 Stockholm, Sweden Tel 08 51 68 70 Telex: 179 51 Milan: Luigi Rancati 1 via Eiaracchini, Italy Phone 86-90-656 Brussels: 23 Chaussee de Wavre Brussels 1040. Belgium Tel: 13-73-95 Frankfurt/Main: Fritz Krusebecker Liebigstrasse 27c, Germany Phone 72 01 81 Tokyo: Tatsuml Katagiri, McGraw-Hill Publications Overseas Corporation. Kasumigaseki Building 2-5, 3-chome, Kasumigaseki, Chlyoda-Ku, Tokyo, Japan (581) 9811

Business Department Thomas M. Egan Production Manager [212] 997-3140 Carol Gallagher Production Manager International [212] 997-2045 Dorothy Carter Production Manager Domestic [212] 997-2908 Diane Arlotta Production Assistant [212] 997-2044 Frances Venom, Reader Service Manager [212] 997-6057

Electronics Buyers' Guide H.T. Howland, General Manager [212] 997-6642 Regina Hem, Directory Manager [212] 997-2544 Diane Arlene, Production Manager (212) 997-2044 Frances Valione, Reader Service Manager (212) 997-6057

Classified and Employment Advertising Frank Eberle, Manager [212] 997-2557


TEACS Done It Again Open Reel Performance in

the Cassette it The TEAC R-81 has all the

features you look for in a high quality data recorder, but with a big plus: . 4 speeds.

Open reel data recorders offer 4-speed selection as a standard fea-ture, but cassette types have been limited to the single speed mode.

The R-81 changes all that, giving you the convenience and simplicity of a cassette recorder along with all the options of 4-speed variability. High-frequency data can be recorded at high speed and reproduced at low speed—or low-frequency data converted to a higher frequency, for analysis by a general-purpose frequency analyzer.

There are 7 channels, too, one switchable for noise compensation (fourth channel), another for memos (seventh channel).

The R-81 also features the clean, rational styling that TEAC cassette tape decks are famous for. The front-loading configuration, with all the controls on the front panel, is idealty convenient for desk-top use. It also facilitates mounting with other equip-ment made to professional standards, as does the body size, which meets EIA specifications.

And the R-81 is ready to operate anywhere. In addition to AC (with adapter) and DC power sources, you have the full portable versatility of dry cell battery operation.

TEAC's done it again: advanced the art of data recording. And you're the winner.

roP3 tests

Or 3"

TEAC CORPORATION. 3-7-3. reaka-cho. Musashino.irokyo, Japan,

U.S.A.: B J Wolfe Enterprises Inc..10760 Burbank Blvd , Northi Hollywood. Calif . 111610 England:International !instruments Ltd, Cross Lances Rd.. Hounslow.Middx W. Germany: nbn Elektronik Starnberg,813 Sternberg. Max-Emanuel-Str. $ France: Tekelec Airtronie SA., Cite des Bruyeres.

Rue Carle-Vernet 92 Sevres Holland: SIMAC Electrorucs.,Veenstraat 20, Veldhoverr Italy: A.E.S.S.E. S.R.L. Corso Lot, 47 2C:r.3Ç.. Milano Norway: Rodland & Rellsmo A S . Gladengveien 3A.Oslo 6 Sweden: Telonstrunnent ab.Maltesholmsvager 138. Vallingby Sieltzerlaild:IAtnger Datentechnik.Bruderholzstrasse 45,

41363 Basel Denmark: Danbit, Plantagevgi 23, 2680 Scolrod Strand Airstream Jacoby, Mitchell Ltd.,P0. Box 70i KingSprOve.N S W 2208


Solid State Sine-Cosine Synchro Converter This new encapsulated circuit converts a 3-wire synchro input to a

pair of d-c outputs proportional to the sine and cosine of the

synchro angle.

• Complete solid state construction.

• Operates over a wide temperature range.

UNIT

L L SYNCHRO INPUT (VRMS) FREQUENCY (Hz) FULL SCALE OUTPUT (VDC) OUTPUT IMPEDANCE L - L INPUT IMPEDANCE REFERENCE VOLTAGE (VRMS) ACCURACY SIN/COS (+25°C) FULL TEMPERATURE SIN

RANGE ACCURACY COS D.C. SUPPLY (VDC) D.C. SUPPLY CURRENT

BANDWIDTH

SIZE

NOTES

TEMPERATURE RANGE

DMD 1436-1

11.8 400 ± 10 <1 st >10K 26 &MIN

15MIN

± 15 <30MA

>10Hz

1.1x3.0 x1.1

-40°C to

+100°C

DMD 1430-1

90 400 ± 10 <g2 >30K 115

±6MIN

±15MIN

± 15 <30MA

>10Hz

2.0x2.25 x1.4 dual

channel unit

-40°C to

+100°C

DMD 1403-2

95 60 ±3 <1s2 >5K 115

±6MIN

15MIN

± 15 <30MA external

set 1.1x3.0 x1.1

-40°C to

+100°C

DMD 1361-6

90 400 ± 3 <1s2 >30K 115 6MIN

15MIN

± 15 <30MA

>20 Hz

1.5x1.5 x0.6

-40°C to

+100°C

DMD 1361-4

11.8 400 + 3

<1,2 >5K 26 6MIN

±15MIN

± 15 <30MA

>5Hz

1.85x0.85 x0.5

-40°C to

+100°C

DMD 11934

11.8 400 ± 10 <1s2 i5K 115

±6MIN

±15MIN

±15 <30MA

>10Hz

2.01x2.25 x1.4 dual

channel unit

-40°C to

+100°C

DMD 1361-8

11.8 400 ± 10 <1s2 >5K 26 6MIN

±15MIN

± 15 <30MA

>10Hz

0.85x1.85 x0.5

-40°C to

+100°C

DMD 1446-1

DMD 1193-5

DMD 1193-6

DMD 1361-10

DM° 1472-2

11.8 11.8 11.8 11.8 90 400 400 400 400 60 ± 10 ± 10 ± 10 ± 10 ± 10

<11:n2 <U2 <1 sz <1U <1S-2 >5K >5K >5K >5K >5K 115 115 115 26 115 ± 0.5% ± 6MIN , 6MIN ±6MIN ±6MIN

± 0.5% ± 15MIN + 15MIN ±15MIN ± 15M1N

± 15 ± 15 ± 15 ± 15 ± 15 <30MA <30MA <30MA <30MA <30MA

>10Hz >2Hz >40Hz >5Hz external set

2x2.25 2x2.25 2x2.25 2.15x1.25 1.10.0 x1.4 x1.4 x1A x0.5 x1.1 dual dual dual sine channel channel - -

output unit unit -40°C -40°C -40°C -40°C -40°C

to to to to to +100°C +100°C +100°C +100°C +100°C

High Precision Analog Multipliers PRODUCT ACCURACY (MCM 1519-1) t 1/2% OF ALL THEORETICAL OUTPUT VALUES OVER FULL MILITARY TEMPERATURE RANGE OF -55-C TO + 125 C. ZERO POINT ERROR FOR ANY INPUT COM-BINATION IS ' 2MVRMS • All units are hermetically

sealed and are not affected by

external fields

High analog product accuracy and wave quality allows dual

multiplier assemblies to be

matched with 1% of point

over the specified temperature range

Full four quadrant operation

Package size, power supply re-

quirements and other specs.

may be altered to your exact

requirements at no extra cost.

Features:

• No external trims required

• Distortion free AC output over

entire dynamic range

• Linearity, product accuracy and

zero point virtually unaffected

by temperature

•

•

•

Specifications:

• Transfer equation: Eo=XY/10 • X & Y input signal ranges: 0 to ± 10V PK

• Maximum zero point error ( X=0; Y=0 or X=±10; Y=0

or X=0; Y=±10): 2MVRMS

• Input impedance: Both inputs 20K min.

• Full scale output: ± 10V peak

• Minimum load resistance for full scale output: 2K12

• Output impedance: 1St

• Short circuit duration: 5 sec.

• Frequency response characteristics ( both inputs) 1% amplitude error:

DC to 1200 Hz ( min.) 0.5 DB Amplitude error: DC to 3500 Hz min.

3 DB point: Approx. 10K hz Roll off rate: 18 DB/octave

• Noise Level: 51V1V PK-PK

@ 100K Hz approx.

• Operating temp. range: See chart

• Storage temperature range:

-55°C to +125°C • DC Power: ± 15V ± 1% @ 30MA

• Dimensions: 2" x 1.5" x .6"

Type No. Product Accuracy

Operating Temperature Range

MCM 1519-1 t 0.5% -55 C - +12ec mcm 1519-2 ' 0.5% -25 C - +85 C MCM 1519-3 t 0.5% 0 C - + 70 C MCM 1520-1 ± 1.0% -55 C - + 125 C MCM 1520-2 t 1.0% -25 C - +85 C MCM 1520-3 t 1.0% OC- +70C

Precision AC Line Regulator

Features:

• Low distortion sinusoidal

output

• Regulation control better

than ten times superior to

commercial AC voltage

regulators transformer pro-

duct lines

• No active filters or tuned

resonant circuits employed

resulting in immunity to

line frequency changes

• 6.5 watt output level

• Small size

Total Regulation 0.15% Max.

• Output set to ± 1% accu-racy - this includes

initial set point plus line,

load, frequency and temperature changes

• Foldback short circuit pro-

tection provided resulting

in protection against over-

loads and short circuits of any duration

• Low profile package with

straight pins makes the unit suitable for PC board mountil

(unit is hermetically sealed)

• Transformer isolation betweei

all power inputs and the out-

puts.

*Other units available at dif-

ferent power levels. Informa-tion will be supplied upon

request.

Specifications Model MLR 1476-2:

• AC input line voltage: 115V RMS ±20% @ 400 Hz ±20%

• Output: 26V RMS ± 1% (for any condition)

• Load: 0 to 250 MA, RMS

• Total regulation: ±0.15% maximum (any combination

of line, load or frequency)

• Distortion: 2% maximum

• AC input line current: 100 MA. max. at full load

• DC power: ± 15 V DC ±5% @ 15 MA. max. • Phase angle: 1° max. • Temp. Range: -40°C to +85°C

• Case Material: High permeability nickel alloy

• Terminals: Glass to metal hermetic seal pins


GENERAL MAGNETICS • INC 135 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003 - Tel. (201) 743-2700

A single, double, or triple pole, compact, printed-circuit-mounted, immersion-proof, . 310 high, IC and JP compatible, off-the-shelf, reed relay.

The MIP*

It's available in a variety of standard contact c:ombinatiors . . single pole: 1 Form A, 1 Form B, and 1 7-orm C . . . double pole 2 Fcrm A and 2 Form C . . . triple pole: 3 Form A. And, both .' and . 150 pin spacing is offered.

The modula- MIP is epoxy molded and comp;etely immune to standard printed circuit board cleaning processes.

Complete information and specifications are available in our MIP Catalog. Write or call Magnecraft Eectric Company, 5575 North Lynch, Chicago, Illinois 60630. 312/282-5500.

Magnecraft® ELECTRIC COMPANY

*Molded In- Line Package


First in the Industry! LEDs with PHOTOCONDUCTORS

in DIP OPTO-ISOLATORS Cl/irex has developed tiïese four LED/photoconductive cell isolators in the conven-tional dual-in-line package. They are truly an industry first! The inherent slower speed response of a photo-conductive cell, as com-pared to a silicon detector, provides an ideal unit for

PI-10-TOCONDUCT LED-

01P %SOL A-I-ORS

noise ind transient immu-nity.

All four units have a photoconductive cell out-put capability of 250 volts PAC along with an isolation voltage of 1500 PAC. They also feature a minimum RoFF of one megolun and guaranteed RON maximums

at If biases of 16 ma and 1 ma respectively. The CLM 50 and CLM

51 incorporate a GaP LED with a photoconductive cell for both linear and logic functions. The CLM 60 and CLM 61 feature two GaP LEDs connected in inverse parallel in their input cir-

CLAIREX ELECTRONICS

cuits to facilitate an a-è in-put signal to the isolator.

For complete details or any other assistance with your opto-electronic prob-lems, call 914-664-6602 or write Clairex®, 560 South Third Avenue, Mount Ver-non, Ne W York 10550.

A Division of Clairex Corporation Circle 902 on reader service card

• AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT - World Radio History

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